MyKrugerHoliday
Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans · Public domain · source ↗
Shelley's Francolin
Laeveldpatrys · Scleroptila shelleyi
A beautifully patterned francolin of grassy woodland and rocky slopes, more often heard than seen. It keeps to thick grass, feeding on seeds, bulbs and insects, and explodes into whirring flight only when closely approached, flashing rufous in the wings. Its rhythmic call is a giveaway.
Log your Shelley's Francolin sighting — free →How to identify it
Boldly marked francolin with chestnut-and-white streaked flanks and a barred breast band; shows rufous wings in flight.
Listen for its call
A rhythmic 'I'll-drink-yer-beer' whistle, repeated over and over.
Where to see it in Kruger
Grassy hillsides and open woodland with thick grass, often on rocky or broken ground.
Did you know
Its call sounds like it is saying 'I'll-drink-your-beer' over and over.
Often confused with
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