The Djibouti spurfowl or Djibouti francolin is a bird species in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is critically endangered and found only in Djibouti, a nation in the Horn of Africa. This species is grayish-brown overall with white stripes and streaks on its underparts which become finer towards the upperparts. It has black markings on the head and a gray crown and has a short tail. It is 35 cm (1.15 ft) in length, and weighs 940 g (33 oz).
Region
Horn of Africa
Typical Environment
Extremely local in Djibouti, confined to the Day Forest of the Goda Mountains and the nearby Mabla Mountains. It favors relic montane juniper and mixed evergreen woodlands with dense understory, rocky gullies, and thickets. Birds may use adjacent scrub and forest edges for foraging but rely on closed-canopy patches for cover. Habitat loss from wood cutting, drought, and grazing has fragmented its already tiny range.
Altitude Range
700–1700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Djibouti spurfowl is one of Africa’s most range-restricted galliforms, occurring only in two small montane forest areas of Djibouti. It was long thought to survive mainly in the Day Forest, where juniper woodlands have been heavily degraded by logging and overgrazing. Both sexes give loud duetting calls at dawn, making vocal surveys the best way to detect this elusive bird. Conservation focuses on protecting remnant highland forests and restoring native juniper stands.
Breeding areas
Acacia woodland similar to that in which the Djibouti francolin is occasionally seen
Temperament
wary and secretive
Flight Pattern
explosive burst with short rapid wingbeats; prefers running to flying
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups, maintaining territories within dense forest patches. Nests on the ground, tucked under shrubs or dense cover. Likely monogamous, with both adults guarding chicks that follow parents soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, rasping series of cackling notes often delivered as a duet by a pair, most frequent at dawn and dusk. Contact calls are harsh clucks and grating squeals given when alarmed.
Plumage
Grayish-brown overall with fine white streaks and stripes on the underparts that become subtler toward the upperparts; short, rounded tail and compact, heavy-bodied shape.
Diet
Omnivorous, taking seeds, shoots, bulbs, and berries, along with insects and other small invertebrates. Forages by scratching leaf litter and probing soft soil in shaded forest. Seasonal availability of fruits and insects likely influences diet composition.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on the forest floor within dense juniper and mixed evergreen thickets, along rocky gullies, and at forest edges. Uses cover extensively and rarely ventures into open terrain.
