Erckel's Spurfowl

Basic Description

The Erckel’s Spurfowl is a gorgeous gamebird, intricately patterned with teardrops and streaks of gray, white, black, and chestnut. In its native northeastern African range, this species is at home among inaccessible cliffs and steep, rocky slopes. Spurfowl are named for the two prominent spurs on the back of each leg, more prominent in males than females. Males give a loud song near dawn and dusk. Otherwise this species is inconspicuous as it forages quietly on the ground under the cover of dense vegetation. In the 1950s and 1960s, Erckel’s Spurfowl was introduced to Hawaii, where it is common on several of the main islands.