Orange River Francolin

Vrystaatse Patrys

Francolinus levaillantoides

Records: 114

Drafted by Pat Tattersall

1st Reviewer: Etienne Marais

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Distribution: Records in our area are mainly from the Suikerbosrand and Ezemvelo Nature Reserves, with other records from Elandsvlei (Dickens Pan) and sightings in Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria, and the Schurveberge, northwest of Centurion.

Habitat: Essentially a flat-country, grassland bird (preferably sweet grassland), probably better adapted to cultivated lands than other francolins. It is also able to survive in more arid areas, subsisting for long periods on metabolic water from corms, tubers and other food. These francolins hold large territories, which all members of a covey help to defend. Coveys roost close together on the ground in open patches of grassland.

Status and movements: Fairly inconspicuous unless heard calling. Locally common, but numbers in our area have declined since 1930 owing to extensive transformation of their habitat by maize farming, and by annual burnings of grass at breeding and nesting times. After periods of drought there is a considerable local movement in response to increased aridity.

Studies at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve have also shown that this bird abandons fallow lands once they begin to be covered with a secondary growth of vegetation, and elsewhere that there is a close correlation between this birdís distribution and the occurrence of Moraea polystachia, the corms of which are an important food item.

Population: Densities of 0.2-0.5 birds per sq. km have been measured, with coveys of up to seven birds having home ranges 10-35 ha. In 1987 the total population in the former Transvaal area was estimated as being 1,000-10,000.

Conservation: Most of the PCC records were obtained from the conservation areas of Sulkerbosrand and Ezemvelo. These protected areas obviously help to sustain the range River Francolin population in our region.