Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis) [XC280630]
by Faansie Peacock from Mopani area, Kruger National Park, Limpopo, South Africa (song)
Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis) [XC878239]
by Marc Anderson from Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Hildebrandt's Francolin (Pternistis hildebrandti), with which occasional hybridization has been reported. Has at times been placed in genus Chaetopus, or alternatively in Notocolinus. Recently proposed reorganization of Francolinus places present species in genus Pternistis with 23 other species.
Subspecies proposed at various times, such as neavei, but variation clinal and validity of subspecies not supported. Hybridizes with Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) in western Zimbabwe.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
neavei (Mackworth-Praed, 1920) - Southern Zambia, western Mozambique.
natalensis (Smith, A, 1833) - Zambia and Mozambique to Cape Province.