Francolins – Family Overview

Francolins are medium-sized, ground-dwelling gamebirds belonging to the family Phasianidae, a group that also includes pheasants, partridges, spurfowls, and quails. They are robust birds with strong legs and relatively short wings, well adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle.

Francolins are typically found in grasslands, scrublands, open woodlands, cultivated fields, and forest edges. They spend most of their time on the ground, feeding and moving through dense vegetation, and usually take flight only when alarmed.

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, grains, shoots, berries, and insects, making them adaptable to a wide range of habitats, including human-modified landscapes. Francolins are often encountered singly, in pairs, or in small family groups.

These birds are known for their distinctive and often loud calls, which are frequently given at dawn and dusk. Vocalisations play an important role in territory advertisement and communication, and francolins are often detected by sound before being seen.

India hosts several species of francolins with varying habitat preferences and geographic distributions. Some species are widespread, while others have more localised ranges and may be affected by habitat loss and changes in land use.

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Licensing & Prints

Selected photographs from this bird group are available for licensing and fine-art prints. You can explore curated images in the Francolins collection on BirdsPhotos Shop.