Pternistis

A group of ground-dwelling birds, often called spurfowls, native mostly to Africa, particularly in savannas, woodlands, and mountainous regions. These birds are close relatives of pheasants and partridges and are part of the francolin family. Tough, resourceful, and often surprisingly loud, spurfowls are well adapted to life in a variety of environments, from dense forests to open scrublands.

Some of the more famous members include the red-necked spurfowl (Pternistis afer), the helmeted spurfowl (Pternistis hildebrandti), and the Cape spurfowl (Pternistis capensis). Each species has its own regional range and specific adaptations, but all share a few key characteristics: stocky bodies, short wings, strong legs, and (true to their name) sharp spurs on their legs, especially prominent in males.

Spurfowls are generally cryptically colored, with earthy tones like brown, gray, and black, often with fine barring, speckles, or streaks. This camouflage helps them blend perfectly into grasslands, thickets, and leaf litter, making them hard to spot unless they move or call. They have short, rounded wings, which make them better at quick bursts of flight than long-distance soaring.

Despite being good at hiding, spurfowls are quite bold when it comes to defending their territory. Males use their leg spurs to fight rivals, sometimes engaging in dramatic, flapping duels where they kick at each other with their spurred legs — a bit like feathered gladiators of the grasslands.

They are omnivorous, eating a mix of seeds, shoots, berries, insects, and small invertebrates. Their strong legs are not just for show — they spend much of their day scratching the ground for food, similar to chickens. During the dry season, when food is scarce, they often move closer to human settlements in search of crops or water.