Bird Guide

Grey Francolin vs Swamp Francolin

Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus)

Grey Francolin

Ortygornis pondicerianus

250 gGrassland

This bird is a medium-sized francolin, with males averaging 11.6–13.4 in (29–34 cm) and females averaging 10.2–11.9 in (26–30 cm). The males weigh 9–12 oz (260–340 g), whereas the weight of the females is 7–11 oz (200–310 g). The francolin is barred throughout and the face is pale with a thin, black border to the pale throat. The only similar species is the painted francolin, which has a rufous vent. The male can have up to two spurs on the legs, while females usually lack them. Subspecies O.p. mecranensis is palest and found in arid north-western India, eastern Pakistan, and southern Iran.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Grey Francolin
Recorded by Sudipto Roy · Call, song · Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Parth Kansara · CC BY 4.0
Swamp Francolin (Ortygornis gularis)

Swamp Francolin

Ortygornis gularis

510 gWetland

From Frank Finn's The Game Birds of India & Asia (1911): This species is easily distinguished from most of our partridges by its large size and comparatively long legs; as in the last species, the sexes are alike in plumage, but the cock is easily distinguishable by his spurs. The upper plumage is brown barred with buff, and the outer tail-feathers chestnut, as in the grey partridge; but the throat is bright rust-red, and the rest of the under-parts brown longitudinally streaked with white. The bill is blackish, the eyes dark, and the feet dull red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Luciano Massa · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey Francolin and Swamp Francolin.