Introduction: The red-billed spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus) used to be known as the red-billed francolin (Francolinus adspersus) and favour a habitat of reasonably dry savannah with a typical vegetation of Acacia and mixed woodlands, thickets in open ground, low scrub and the edges of Acacia woodland on Kalahari sand. They are not usually far from water and are common in the floodplains of the Okavango Delta and fossil lake beds of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Distribution: Throughout central and northern Namibia including Etosha National Park, Windhoek, Swakopmund with scattered populations in Kaokoland, Damaraland and the Caprivi Strip.

Diet: A feature of their diet and behaviour is to search through the droppings of large game animals at waterholes for undigested seeds as well as invertebrates sheltering under the actual droppings. They also eat bulbs, corms and tubers, fruits, berries and seeds. Grasshoppers, ants, termites and molluscs also appear on the menu and they are particularly fond of fruits of the devil-thorn tree.

Description: Red-billed spurfowl are medium-sized gamebirds with black, red or orange legs. They are frequent tree roosters and can be seen in small to large coveys. Pternistis is the Greek word for 'one who trips with the heel' referring to the double spurs (projections) of females. Both male and female are alike in colours and markings and reside in bush habitats. Their calls are loud and grating.

Breeding: Females lay their eggs around April to September, usually 3 to 10 that hatch after about 23 days of incubation.

Size: 35 to 38cm. Weight: 465g.

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