Editing Francolin

{{Short description|Group of birds}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| auto = yes
| image = Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus by Dr. Raju Kasambe DSCN6550 (5).jpg
| image_caption = [[Grey francolin]]
| parent = Gallini
| includes_text = Genera
| includes = ''[[Peliperdix]]''<br>
''[[Ortygornis]]''<br>
''[[Francolinus]]''<br>
''[[Campocolinus]]''<br>
''[[Scleroptila]]''
}}

'''Francolins''' are [[bird]]s in the [[Tribe (biology)|tribe]] [[Gallini (bird)|Gallini]] that traditionally have been placed in the [[genus]] ''Francolinus'', but now commonly are divided into multiple genera.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Galliformes|url=http://www.bird-phylogeny.de/superorders/galloanseres/galliformes/|access-date=2021-08-22|website=bird-phylogeny|language=de-DE}}</ref> 

As previously defined, they were [[Paraphyly|paraphyletic]] as the genus ''[[Pternistis]]'', which was previously included in ''[[Francolinus]]'', is more closely related to [[Old World quail|Old World quails]] than it is to the other francolins. Beginning in 2004, various ornithologists have recommended that it would be clearer to use "spurfowl" for all members of the genus ''Pternistis'' and restrict the use of "francolin" to the other species presently or formerly classified in ''[[Francolinus]]''.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|last1=Crowe|first1=T.M.|last2=Little|first2=R.M.|year=2004|title=Francolins, partridges and spurfowls: what's in a name|journal=Ostrich|volume=75|issue=4|pages=199–203|doi=10.2989/00306520409485445|bibcode=2004Ostri..75..199C |s2cid=83631933}}</ref> When ''Pternistis'' is excluded, the francolins form a [[Monophyly|monophyletic]] clade that is a [[sister group]] to a clade comprising the [[junglefowl]] (''Gallus'') and the [[Bamboo partridge|bamboo partridges]] (''Bambusicola''); together, these clades compose the tribe [[Gallini (bird)|Gallini]].<ref name=":0" />

Although formerly classified in the [[partridge]] subfamily [[Perdicinae]], this classification is no longer supported, and they are now classified in the subfamily [[Pavoninae]].<ref name=":0" /> 

Francolins are [[terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] (though not flightless) birds that feed on insects, vegetable matter and [[seed]]s. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, well-suited for digging at the bases of grass tussocks and rootballs. They have wide tails with fourteen [[rectrix]] feathers. Most species exhibit [[spur (zoology)|spur]]s on the [[Tarsometatarsus|tarsi]].<ref>B P Hall (1963)  The Francolins, a study in speciation.  Bulletin of the British Museum 10(2):105-204 [https://archive.org/details/bulletinofbritis10zoollond Scan]</ref>

==Distribution==
Of the approximately 17 [[Extant taxon|extant]] species, the natural range of five (composing the genus ''Francolinus'' and ''Ortygornis'') are restricted to [[Asia]], while the remaining genera are restricted to [[Africa]].<ref name=HBW>McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Francolins (genus ''Francolinus''). Pp. 489-504 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). ''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]].'' Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|84-87334-15-6}}</ref>  Several species have been introduced to other parts of the world, notably [[Hawaii]].

Twelve of the species which occur in [[Africa]] are found in the subcontinental region of southern Africa; of these, seven occur in varying proportions within the political boundaries of [[Namibia]] and [[Zambia]]. Six southern African francolins are considered endemic to the subcontinent, of which three are found in Namibia and Zambia (the [[Hartlaub's spurfowl|Hartlaub's]], [[Red-billed francolin|red-billed]] and [[Orange River francolin]]s). 

The [[Cape spurfowl]], endemic to the [[Cape Province]] of [[South Africa]], occurs marginally in southern Namibia and southwestern Zambia. A [[fossil]] francolin, ''Francolinus capeki'', has been described from [[Late Pliocene]] deposits of [[Hungary]]; the contemporary fossil galliforms ''"Francolinus" minor'' and ''"F." subfrancolinus'' are now placed in ''[[Palaeocryptonyx]]''.

==Taxonomy==
Until the early 1990s, major authorities placed all francolins in the [[genus]] ''Francolinus''.<ref name=HBW/> In 1992 it was suggested that this treatment was problematic, and the francolins should be split into four genera: ''Francolinus'' for the Asian species, and the African species divided into ''Peliperdix'', ''Scleroptila'' and ''Pternistis''.<ref name=Crowe1992>Crowe, T. M., Harley, E. H.,Jakutowic, M. B., Komen, J., & Crowe, A. A. (1992). ''Phylogenetic, taxonomic and biogeographical implications of genetic, morphological, and behavioral variation in Francolins (Phasianidae: Francolinus).'' Auk 109(1): 24-42.</ref> The [[crested francolin]] and [[Nahan's francolin]] were considered possibly quite distinct, but still maintained in ''Peliperdix'' and ''Pternistis'' respectively.<ref name=Crowe1992/> Based on further evidence, the crested francolin was moved to the [[monotypic]] genus ''Dendroperdix'' in 1998,<ref name=BloomerCrowe>Bloomer, P, & Crowe, T. M. (1998). ''Francolin phylogenetics: molecular, morphobehavioral, and combined evidence.'' Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 9(2): 236-54.</ref> and the Nahan's francolin was moved to ''[[Ptilopachus]]'' in 2006.<ref name=Crowe2006>Crowe, T. M., Bowie, R.C.K., Bloomer, P., Mandiwana, T.G., Hedderson, T.A.J., Randi, E., Pereira, S., & Wakeling, J. (2006). ''Phylogenetics, biogeography and classification of, and character evolution in, gamebirds (Aves: Galliformes): Effects of character exclusion, data partitioning and missing data.'' Cladistics 22: 495-532.</ref> Though some still maintain all these in ''Francolinus'',<ref name=HowardMoore>Dickinson, E. C. eds. (2003). ''[[The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World]]''. 3rd edition. {{ISBN|0-7136-6536-X}}</ref><ref name=Clements>Clements, J. F. (2007). ''[[The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World]]''. Christopher Helm, London. {{ISBN|978-0-7136-8695-1}}</ref> the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread.<ref name=subsahara>Sinclair, I., & Ryan, P. (2003). ''Birds of Africa south of the Sahara.'' Struik Publishers, Cape Town. {{ISBN|1-86872-857-9}}</ref><ref name=IOC>Gill, F, & Donsker, D. eds. (2010). ''[http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ IOC World Bird Names].'' Version 2.7. Accessed 15 January 2011.</ref> In 2021, two species in ''Francolinus'' (the [[Grey francolin|grey]] and [[Swamp francolin|swamp]] francolins) along with the crested francolin were moved into the genus ''[[Ortygornis]]'', while three species from ''Peliperdix'' (the [[Coqui francolin|coqui]], [[White-throated francolin|white-throated]], and [[Schlegel's francolin|Schlegel's]] francolins) were moved into the new genus ''[[Campocolinus]]''. ''[[Pternistis]]'' was moved to the tribe [[Coturnicini]] and, as with Nahan's "francolin", is no longer considered a francolin.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Crowe|first1=Timothy M.|last2=Mandiwana-Neudani|first2=Tshifhiwa G.|last3=Donsker|first3=David B.|last4=Bowie|first4=Rauri CK|last5=Little|first5=Robin M.|date=2020-04-02|title=Resolving nomenclatural 'confusion' vis-à-vis Latham's Francolin (Francolinus/Peliperdix/Afrocolinus lathami) and the 'Red-tailed' francolins (Francolinus/Ortygornis/Peliperdix spp.)|url=https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2020.1723140|journal=Ostrich|volume=91|issue=2|pages=134–136|doi=10.2989/00306525.2020.1723140|bibcode=2020Ostri..91..134C |s2cid=219442370 |issn=0030-6525|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mandiwana-Neudani|first1=Tshifhiwa G.|last2=Little|first2=Robin M.|last3=Crowe|first3=Timothy M.|last4=Bowie|first4=Rauri CK|date=2019-05-04|title=Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of African spurfowls Galliformes, Phasianidae, Phasianinae, Coturnicini: Pternistis spp.|url=https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2019.1584925|journal=Ostrich|volume=90|issue=2|pages=145–172|doi=10.2989/00306525.2019.1584925|bibcode=2019Ostri..90..145M |s2cid=195417777 |issn=0030-6525}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2021-05-01|title=A phylogenomic supermatrix of Galliformes (Landfowl) reveals biased branch lengths|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790321000245|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|language=en|volume=158|pages=107091|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107091|issn=1055-7903|last1=Kimball |first1=Rebecca T. |last2=Hosner |first2=Peter A. |last3=Braun |first3=Edward L. |pmid=33545275 |bibcode=2021MolPE.15807091K |s2cid=231963063 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taxonomic Updates – IOC World Bird List|url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/updates/taxonomy/|access-date=2021-07-14|language=en-US}}</ref>

When split, the English name "francolin" is generally restricted to the members of the genera ''Francolinus'', ''Ortygornis'', ''Campocolinus'', ''Peliperdix'' and ''Scleroptila'',<ref name="subsahara" /><ref name="IOC" /> while the name "spurfowl" is used for ''Pternistis'' ("spurfowl" is also used for ''[[Galloperdix]]'' of the [[Indian subcontinent]]).<ref name="subsahara" /><ref name="IOC" /> As the Nahan's "francolin" is related to the [[stone partridge]] rather than the true francolins and spurfowl,<ref name="Crowe2006" /><ref name="Crowe2010">Crowe, T. (2010). ''Phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic African galliforms: the stone partridge Ptilopachus petrosus and Latham's and Nahan's 'francolins' Francolinus lathami and F. nahani.'' Cladistics 26: 206-206. (Abstract).</ref> its name is sometimes modified to Nahan's partridge.<ref name="IOC" />

In addition to the major changes proposed at genus level, the species level [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] among several francolins/spurfowl is disputed. For example, the distribution of the [[Orange River francolin]] (''Scleroptila levaillantoides'') is highly [[Disjunct distribution|disjunct]], leading some authorities to split the northern [[taxa]] (from [[Kenya]] and northwards) into a separate species, the acacia/Archer's francolin (''S. gutturalis'', with subspecies ''lorti''), while maintaining the southern taxa (from [[Angola]] and southwards) in the Orange River francolin.<ref name=HBW/> Most authorities treat the [[Elgon francolin]] (''S''. ''psilolaema elgonensis'') as a subspecies of the [[moorland francolin]],<ref name=HBW/><ref name=HowardMoore/><ref name=Clements/><ref name=subsahara/> but others have suggested it is a species (''S''. ''elgonensis''), a subspecies of the [[Shelley's francolin]],<ref name=HBW/> or even a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between the moorland and [[red-winged francolin]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title= Handbook of avian hybrids of the world |author= McCarthy, Eugene M. |year= 2006|publisher= Oxford University Press US |isbn= 978-0-19-518323-8|pages= 50 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwInO7z_Y3oC&q=Francolinus+elgonensis&pg=PA49 }}</ref>

===Species===
* '''''[[Peliperdix]]''''':
** [[Latham's francolin]], ''Peliperdix lathami''
*'''''[[Ortygornis]]''''':
**[[Crested francolin]], ''Ortygornis'' ''sephaena''
**[[Grey francolin]], ''Ortygornis pondicerianus''
** [[Swamp francolin]], ''Ortygornis gularis''
*'''''[[Francolinus]]''''':
** [[Black francolin]], ''Francolinus francolinus''
** [[Painted francolin]], ''Francolinus pictus''
** [[Chinese francolin]], ''Francolinus pintadeanus''
*'''''[[Campocolinus]]''''':
**[[Coqui francolin]], ''Campocolinus coqui''
** [[White-throated francolin]], ''Campocolinus albogularis''
** [[Schlegel's francolin]], ''Campocolinus schlegelii''
* '''''[[Scleroptila]]''''':
** [[Ring-necked francolin]], ''Scleroptila streptophora''
**[[Red-winged francolin]], ''Scleroptila levaillantii''
** [[Finsch's francolin]], ''Scleroptila finschi''
**[[Moorland francolin]], ''Scleroptila psilolaema''
** [[Grey-winged francolin]], ''Scleroptila afra''
** [[Orange River francolin]], ''Scleroptila gutturalis''
** [[Shelley's francolin]], ''Scleroptila shelleyi''
With a paraphyletic classification, the genus ''[[Pternistis]]'' in the tribe [[Coturnicini]] is also considered a francolin; due to the resulting paraphyly, this classification is no longer supported and has been recommended against.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
A Molecular Phylogeny of the Pheasants and Partridges Suggests
That These Lineages Are Not Monophyletic
R. T. Kimball,* E. L. Braun,*,† P. W. Zwartjes,* T. M. Crowe,‡,§ and J. D. Ligon*

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Francolinus}}
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/pheasants-partridges-phasianidae Francolin videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
*{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Francolin |short=x}}

{{Phasianidae|state=all}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Francolin}}
[[Category:Gallini]]
[[Category:Bird common names]]