Hartlaub's spurfowl or Hartlaub's francolin is a species of bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. It is endemic to the escarpment zone of Namibia and Angola. The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub.
Region
Southwestern Africa
Typical Environment
Confined to the escarpment belt and adjoining rocky uplands of Namibia and southwestern Angola. It favors rugged terrain with granite inselbergs, boulder fields, and rocky hillsides with sparse shrubland. Birds use rock crevices and thick tufts for cover and nesting and descend to nearby washes after rains. The species avoids open desert dunes and dense woodland, keeping to broken, stony country.
Altitude Range
400–2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Hartlaub's spurfowl is a small, rock-loving gamebird often seen in pairs on granite outcrops and boulder-strewn slopes. Pairs perform clear, antiphonal duets at dawn and dusk, making them easier to hear than to see. It is named after the German ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub and is highly specialized for Namibia–Angola escarpment habitats.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Temperament
shy and wary, often skulking among rocks
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive flush, followed by brief glides downhill
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small family groups, maintaining territories on rocky slopes. Nesting is in a simple ground scrape concealed under rocks or dense grass clumps. Pairs remain bonded and coordinate movements with soft contact calls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Clear, ringing duets given by male and female, often at first light and again toward evening. Calls carry well across rocky hillsides and consist of sharp whistles and cackling phrases in rapid alternation.
Plumage
Finely vermiculated and mottled grey-brown plumage with buff and rufous tones; underparts subtly barred; overall cryptic patterning suited to rocky backgrounds.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of seeds, bulbs, shoots, and a variety of invertebrates such as termites, ants, and beetles. It scratches in sandy soil and among rocks to uncover bulbs and seeds. After rains, it increases insect intake, gleaning along rock edges and ephemeral vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Forages along rocky slopes, gravelly washes, and the edges of sparse mopane and acacia scrub. Frequently works the bases of boulders and crevices where seeds and insects accumulate.
