Cape spurfowl

The Cape spurfowl, previously the Cape francolin and scientifically Pternistis capensis, previously Francolinus capensis, started off in recorded gamebird history in the 18th century as the Cape partridge.

The bird is common in Western Cape strandveld, renosterveld, fynbos and parts of karoid scrub, often near running water; also near the coast in the Northern Cape and in the Eastern Cape. It is often not shy near people and usually roosts in trees.

The Cape spurfowl is an admired resident of Kirstenbosch and more places where shooting it for fun or as food is discontinued or happening less often these days. A special treat in the spring Garden is encountering a mother with chicks checking the flowerbeds for things edible.

Whitish on the throat and dark on the head, the pale bar markings on the belly are typical. The brown plumage is described as finely vermiculated, meaning that it is patterned in dense, irregular lines. The slightly larger male has two leg spurs, the female only one that is short or absent.

The birds can fly well, but prefer walking and running. Their diet includes seeds, berries, leaves, bulbs, insects and molluscs.

Nesting under bushes, about seven eggs are laid in spring or summer, sometimes by two females sharing, when the number will be higher. Hatching the pinkish stone to buff coloured eggs (sometimes white-spotted), takes a little over three weeks (Maclean, 1993; Wikipedia).