Djibouti Francolin
Encyclopedia
The Djibouti Francolin, Pternistis ochropectus, is one of over forty species of francolin
s, a group of bird
s in the Phasianidae
family. It is critically endangered
and found only in Djibouti
, a nation in eastern 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 (1.1 ft) in length, and weighs 940 g (33.2 oz).
Its natural habitat
is high altitude subtropical or tropical dry forest
s composed primarily of African juniper. However, the juniper forests preferred by the francolin are dying, so it may be found in other habitats, such as box-tree forests. This bird is only known from two locations in Djibouti, one of which is largely unsurveyed. It can be found in small groups and is extremely shy. It is known to feed on berries, seeds, and termites, and it breeds between December and February. It is considered a critically endangered
species because it underwent a 90% population decline in twenty years. The degrading of its juniper habitat through man-made disturbances, such as overgrazing, is a major threat to the francolin's survival. Ongoing conservation work includes the restoration of some juniper forest, and surveys to obtain accurate population counts and to raise awareness.
family, such as the Djibouti Francolin, are Old World
ground-dwelling gamefowl, many of which are found in forests. Francolin
s are terrestrial
birds of the that feed on insects, vegetable matter, and seed
s. Most species have a hooked upper beak, tails with fourteen feathers, and in many of them the male has tarsal spurs. Of the 41 extant species, 36 are found solely in Africa
.
The Djibouti Francolin was originally collected on February 22, 1952 by Captain Albospeyre, the military commander of Tadjoura
in the Forêt du Day. It was then described by French ornithologists Jean Dorst
and Christian Jouanin
later that year as Francolinus ochropectus in L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. Its specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek
ochros, which means "ochre", and the Latin
pectus, meaning "breast". Other authors have since proposed moving the species to other genera, including Oreocolinus and Pternistis, the latter a move proposed in a recent attempt to reorganize Francolinus, and one which would include 23 other francolins. Though some still maintain all these in Francolinus, the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread.
The distinctness of this species has been described as weak by some authors, although its status as a full species has been maintained. It forms a superspecies
with Jackson's Francolin
, Handsome Francolin
, Chestnut-naped Francolin
, and Erckel's Francolin
; it is particularly closely related to the latter two species and is intermediate to them in both location and morphological features. The Djibouti Francolin has no recognized subspecies
.
This species has formerly been named as the Ochre-breasted Francolin, the Tadjoura Francolin, and the Pale-bellied Francolin. To the native people of Djibouti, it is known as the kukaaqe.
The sexes are similar, although the male averages slightly larger than the female and has two prominent spurs on the legs, whereas the female is virtually unspurred. The females also has more rufous in its tail. The juvenile resembles the adults, but is duller, with buff barring, rather than streaking, on the underparts.
The call of this species is a rattling erk erk erk-kkkkkkkk that descends into a chuckling gurgle. Feeding birds may give a low conversational clucking.
No other francolin share this bird's restricted range (although the Yellow-necked Francolin occurs elsewhere in Djibouti) so it is unlikely to be confused with any other species.
, a nation in eastern Africa, and is known from only two locations. One is the Forêt du Day in the Goda Mountains
, approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) north of the Gulf of Tadjoura
. This site is only 15 sqkm and is undergoing habitat changes. The other site is located in the Mabla Mountains
, which are 80 km (49.7 mi) northeast of the Forêt du Day and remain unsurveyed. This site has been exposed to more human disturbance than the Forêt du Day, and is therefore considered less viable. Combined, the total estimated range of this bird is 58 sqkm.
This francolin prefers dense African juniper
woodland with a closed canopy between 700 and 1780 m (2,296.6 and 5,839.9 ft) in elevation, and preferably on a plateau. Mixed in with this forest habitat are box-trees (Buxus hildenbrandtii) and African olives (Olea europaea africana). This francolin has been found in secondary woodland, box-tree woodlands (Buxus hildenbrandtii), and acacia
woodland (Acacia sayal). It is also known to venture into more open woodland and wadis following the breeding season. Much of the bird's African juniper forest habitat has been damaged or destroyed due to human usage; the ability of this dead woodland to support the Djibouti Francolin remains unknown, although some juveniles have been seen in it. It is believed that the birds are reacting to the destruction of their juniper habitat by trying to find habitat as close to it as possible. It has been noted that due to the decline of the juniper, Buxus hildenbrandtii is now the dominant tree in areas most frequently inhabited by the francolin.
. The bird is most active and most likely to call between 6 am and 9 am. After this it may spend most of the day perched motionless in a tree up to 4 m (13.1 ft) above the ground. It eats berries, seeds, termites and figs. It scratches the ground to collect seeds and, when it finds an area disturbed by warthog
s, also scratches the ground for termites. It is monogamous and breeds between December and February.
Only one nest has been recorded; this was located on a mountain ledge, and was a shallow grass-lined depression in the earth. These birds roost in nearby trees at heights of 5 to 8 m (16.4 to 26.2 ft). It is probably monogamous
, and local people say that the clutch is typically 7–9 eggs, but this is unconfirmed.
This species is considered critically endangered
by the IUCN because it underwent a 90% population decrease over twenty years. In 1977, there were an estimated 5600 birds in Forêt du Day, which was the only known location for the species at the time. By 1986, this number had dropped to 1500 individuals. The species was discovered at its second site in the Mabla Mountains
in 1986. While the population in the Mabla Mountains has yet to be surveyed, numbers in the Forêt du Day continued to drop, with 500–1000 Djibouti Francolins recorded in 1998 and only 115–135 in 2004. The total world population in 2006 was estimated to be between 612 and 723 adults.
This species is threatened because of habitat destruction. At the Forêt du Day site, 95% of its preferred juniper
habitat is dead or dying and is unable to support this bird. While an overarching reason behind this destruction remains unknown, overgrazing by cattle, camels, and goats is believed to have been a significant contributor, along with rain, climate change, and a fungal disease. Hunting, the gathering of firewood, egg collecting, and general human disturbance are also believed to be threats. At the Mabla Mountains site, the habitat is also being degraded by the collection of firewood and overgrazing.
In 1937, part of the Forêt du Day site was set aside as Day Forest National Park
; this designation is no longer valid. There have been studies of the area and the related environmental and economic issues involved; very few of the suggestions made by these surveys have been implemented, partially due to the unrest in Djibouti since the early 1990s. In May 2008, 1000 sqkm of forest near the village of Day were set aside for a tree nursery in an attempt to restore some of the francolin's damaged habitat. Surveys are under way to determine population sizes and current range, including plans to survey the largely unknown site in the Mabla Mountains and potentially suitable areas in between the two known sites. A promotional campaign in local schools took place in 2008 to raise awareness for the species.
The Djibouti Francolin has been featured on two stamps; one in 1989 from Djibouti, and another from the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas
, which was what Djibouti was known as under French rule, in 1972.
Francolin
Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera , although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae...
s, a group of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the Phasianidae
Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
family. It is critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
and found only in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, a nation in eastern 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 (1.1 ft) in length, and weighs 940 g (33.2 oz).
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is high altitude subtropical or tropical dry forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s composed primarily of African juniper. However, the juniper forests preferred by the francolin are dying, so it may be found in other habitats, such as box-tree forests. This bird is only known from two locations in Djibouti, one of which is largely unsurveyed. It can be found in small groups and is extremely shy. It is known to feed on berries, seeds, and termites, and it breeds between December and February. It is considered a critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
species because it underwent a 90% population decline in twenty years. The degrading of its juniper habitat through man-made disturbances, such as overgrazing, is a major threat to the francolin's survival. Ongoing conservation work includes the restoration of some juniper forest, and surveys to obtain accurate population counts and to raise awareness.
Taxonomy
Birds in the PhasianidaePhasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and partridges, including the junglefowl , Old World Quail, francolins, monals and peafowl. The family is a large one, and is occasionally broken up into two subfamilies, the Phasianinae, and the Perdicinae...
family, such as the Djibouti Francolin, are Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
ground-dwelling gamefowl, many of which are found in forests. Francolin
Francolin
Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera , although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. They are members of the pheasant family, Phasianidae...
s are terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
birds of the that feed on insects, vegetable matter, and seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s. Most species have a hooked upper beak, tails with fourteen feathers, and in many of them the male has tarsal spurs. Of the 41 extant species, 36 are found solely in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
The Djibouti Francolin was originally collected on February 22, 1952 by Captain Albospeyre, the military commander of Tadjoura
Tadjoura
Tadjoura is the oldest town in Djibouti and the capital of the Tadjourah region. Lying on the Gulf of Tadjoura, it is home to a population of around 25,000 inhabitants.Tadjoura has an airstrip and is linked by ferry with Djibouti City...
in the Forêt du Day. It was then described by French ornithologists Jean Dorst
Jean Dorst
Professor Dr Jean Dorst was a French ornithologist.Dorst was born at Mulhouse and studied biology and paleontology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Paris. In 1947 he joined the staff of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle...
and Christian Jouanin
Christian Jouanin
Christian Jouanin is a prominent French ornithologist and expert on petrels. He worked for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris and is a former Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature...
later that year as Francolinus ochropectus in L'Oiseau et la Revue Francaise d'Ornithologie. Its specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
ochros, which means "ochre", and the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
pectus, meaning "breast". Other authors have since proposed moving the species to other genera, including Oreocolinus and Pternistis, the latter a move proposed in a recent attempt to reorganize Francolinus, and one which would include 23 other francolins. Though some still maintain all these in Francolinus, the split into multiple genera is becoming more widespread.
The distinctness of this species has been described as weak by some authors, although its status as a full species has been maintained. It forms a superspecies
Superspecies
A superspecies is a group of at least two more or less distinctive species with approximately parapatric distributions. Not all species complexes, whether cryptices or ring species are superspecies, and vice versa, but many are...
with Jackson's Francolin
Jackson's Francolin
The Jackson's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is found in Kenya and Uganda.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007.-External links:*...
, Handsome Francolin
Handsome Francolin
The Handsome Francolin, Pternistis nobilis is a large, up to 35 cm long, terrestrial forest francolin with a dark reddish brown plumage, grey head, red bill and legs, brown iris, bare red orbital skin and rufous grey below. Both sexes are similar. The female is slightly smaller than male...
, Chestnut-naped Francolin
Chestnut-naped Francolin
The Chestnut-naped Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. At and , it is a large species of francolin.It is found in Ethiopia, Somalia, and possibly Kenya.-References:...
, and Erckel's Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
The Erckel's Francolin is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family.It is native to Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. In 1957 the species was also introduced to the Hawaiian islands.-References:...
; it is particularly closely related to the latter two species and is intermediate to them in both location and morphological features. The Djibouti Francolin has no recognized subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
.
This species has formerly been named as the Ochre-breasted Francolin, the Tadjoura Francolin, and the Pale-bellied Francolin. To the native people of Djibouti, it is known as the kukaaqe.
Description
This francolin is a large, rotund bird of approximately 35 cm (1.1 ft) in length and 940 g (33.2 oz) in weight. It is grayish-brown overall with white stripes and streaks on its underparts which become finer toward the head. The bird is darker on its back than on its underside. The nape has a hint of rufous, while the top of the head is gray. The forehead, lore, and eye stripe form a black mask, and the chin and throat are whitish. The eyes are brown. The feathers on the body and neck have a gold or straw-colored center that is bordered with dark brown and edged in white. The tail is short. The bill is black with some yellow on the lower mandible, and the Djibouti Francolin's legs are a greenish-yellow.The sexes are similar, although the male averages slightly larger than the female and has two prominent spurs on the legs, whereas the female is virtually unspurred. The females also has more rufous in its tail. The juvenile resembles the adults, but is duller, with buff barring, rather than streaking, on the underparts.
The call of this species is a rattling erk erk erk-kkkkkkkk that descends into a chuckling gurgle. Feeding birds may give a low conversational clucking.
No other francolin share this bird's restricted range (although the Yellow-necked Francolin occurs elsewhere in Djibouti) so it is unlikely to be confused with any other species.
Distribution and habitat
The Djibouti Francolin is endemic to DjiboutiDjibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, a nation in eastern Africa, and is known from only two locations. One is the Forêt du Day in the Goda Mountains
Goda Mountains
The Goda Mountains lie northwest of the Gulf of Tadjoura, Afar region in Djibouti. They rise to above sea level and are the nation's largest vegetated area...
, approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) north of the Gulf of Tadjoura
Gulf of Tadjoura
The Gulf of Tadjoura is a gulf or basin of the Indian Ocean in the Horn of Africa. It lies south of the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, or the entrance to the Red Sea, at . Most of its coastline is the territory of Djibouti, except for a short stretch on the southern shore, which is part of the...
. This site is only 15 sqkm and is undergoing habitat changes. The other site is located in the Mabla Mountains
Mabla Mountains
The Mabla Mountains are located in Obock Region, Djibouti, Africa. The endemic Djibouti Francolin makes its home here and in the Forêt du Day.-Geography:...
, which are 80 km (49.7 mi) northeast of the Forêt du Day and remain unsurveyed. This site has been exposed to more human disturbance than the Forêt du Day, and is therefore considered less viable. Combined, the total estimated range of this bird is 58 sqkm.
This francolin prefers dense African juniper
Juniperus procera
Juniperus procera, commonly known in English as African Juniper or East African Juniper, is a coniferous tree native to the mountains of eastern Africa from eastern Sudan south to Zimbabwe, and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula...
woodland with a closed canopy between 700 and 1780 m (2,296.6 and 5,839.9 ft) in elevation, and preferably on a plateau. Mixed in with this forest habitat are box-trees (Buxus hildenbrandtii) and African olives (Olea europaea africana). This francolin has been found in secondary woodland, box-tree woodlands (Buxus hildenbrandtii), and acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
woodland (Acacia sayal). It is also known to venture into more open woodland and wadis following the breeding season. Much of the bird's African juniper forest habitat has been damaged or destroyed due to human usage; the ability of this dead woodland to support the Djibouti Francolin remains unknown, although some juveniles have been seen in it. It is believed that the birds are reacting to the destruction of their juniper habitat by trying to find habitat as close to it as possible. It has been noted that due to the decline of the juniper, Buxus hildenbrandtii is now the dominant tree in areas most frequently inhabited by the francolin.
Ecology and behavior
This species lives in small groups and is very shy, often remaining in dense vegetation to avoid detection, and therefore its ecology is very little studied. It is believed that the francolin may migrate from lower altitudes to higher altitudes and juniper forest in the warmer months. Its main predator is the common genetCommon Genet
The Common Genet , also known as the Small-spotted Genet or European Genet, is a mammal from the order Carnivora, related to civets and linsangs. The most far-ranging of all the fourteen species of genet, it can be found throughout Africa, parts of the Middle East, and in Europe in Spain, Portugal,...
. The bird is most active and most likely to call between 6 am and 9 am. After this it may spend most of the day perched motionless in a tree up to 4 m (13.1 ft) above the ground. It eats berries, seeds, termites and figs. It scratches the ground to collect seeds and, when it finds an area disturbed by warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
s, also scratches the ground for termites. It is monogamous and breeds between December and February.
Only one nest has been recorded; this was located on a mountain ledge, and was a shallow grass-lined depression in the earth. These birds roost in nearby trees at heights of 5 to 8 m (16.4 to 26.2 ft). It is probably monogamous
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
, and local people say that the clutch is typically 7–9 eggs, but this is unconfirmed.
Conservation
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
by the IUCN because it underwent a 90% population decrease over twenty years. In 1977, there were an estimated 5600 birds in Forêt du Day, which was the only known location for the species at the time. By 1986, this number had dropped to 1500 individuals. The species was discovered at its second site in the Mabla Mountains
Mabla Mountains
The Mabla Mountains are located in Obock Region, Djibouti, Africa. The endemic Djibouti Francolin makes its home here and in the Forêt du Day.-Geography:...
in 1986. While the population in the Mabla Mountains has yet to be surveyed, numbers in the Forêt du Day continued to drop, with 500–1000 Djibouti Francolins recorded in 1998 and only 115–135 in 2004. The total world population in 2006 was estimated to be between 612 and 723 adults.
This species is threatened because of habitat destruction. At the Forêt du Day site, 95% of its preferred juniper
Juniperus procera
Juniperus procera, commonly known in English as African Juniper or East African Juniper, is a coniferous tree native to the mountains of eastern Africa from eastern Sudan south to Zimbabwe, and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula...
habitat is dead or dying and is unable to support this bird. While an overarching reason behind this destruction remains unknown, overgrazing by cattle, camels, and goats is believed to have been a significant contributor, along with rain, climate change, and a fungal disease. Hunting, the gathering of firewood, egg collecting, and general human disturbance are also believed to be threats. At the Mabla Mountains site, the habitat is also being degraded by the collection of firewood and overgrazing.
In 1937, part of the Forêt du Day site was set aside as Day Forest National Park
Day Forest National Park
Day Forest National Park is a national park in Djibouti. It protects an important forest island in a sea of semi-desert, with at least four known endemic plant species, which include: Juniperus procera, Olea africana, Buxus hildebrantii, and Tarchonanthus camphoratus...
; this designation is no longer valid. There have been studies of the area and the related environmental and economic issues involved; very few of the suggestions made by these surveys have been implemented, partially due to the unrest in Djibouti since the early 1990s. In May 2008, 1000 sqkm of forest near the village of Day were set aside for a tree nursery in an attempt to restore some of the francolin's damaged habitat. Surveys are under way to determine population sizes and current range, including plans to survey the largely unknown site in the Mabla Mountains and potentially suitable areas in between the two known sites. A promotional campaign in local schools took place in 2008 to raise awareness for the species.
Relationship with humans
The majority of native people in areas surrounding the francolin's range believe that the species is important, either because of its meat, which may be eaten by the Muslims who comprise the predominant religious group of the region, or because it is part of the natural heritage of the region. While the species is rarely eaten today due to its rarity, decades ago the species was so common that it was easily captured when it approached nearby villages.The Djibouti Francolin has been featured on two stamps; one in 1989 from Djibouti, and another from the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas
French Territory of the Afars and the Issas
The French Territory of Afars and Issas was the name given to present-day Djibouti between 1967 and 1977, while it was still a colony of France...
, which was what Djibouti was known as under French rule, in 1972.
Other sources
- Blot, J (1985) Contribution to our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the pale-bellied Francolin Francolinus ochropectus Dorst and Jouanin. Alauda. 63(4):244-256.
- Zomo S. Y. Fisher, Samantha Cartwright, Clive Bealey, Houssein A. Rayaleh, Philip McGowan and E. J. Milner-Gulland (2009). The Djibouti francolin and juniper forest in Djibouti: the need for both ecosystem and species-specific conservation. Oryx 43:542-551