Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) [XC280625]
by Tony Archer from Polokwane Game Reserve, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa (call)
Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) [XC636022]
by Dawie de Swardt from Waveren near Bultfontein rd, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Yellow-necked Francolin (Pternistis leucoscepus), Grey-breasted Francolin (Pternistis rufopictus) and Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer), although present species sometimes excluded because of overlap with Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer). Recently proposed reorganization of Francolinus places present species in genus Pternistis with 23 other species. Several other subspecies have been described, but doubtfully valid: damarensis, gilli and chobiensis all included in nominate swainsonii. Hybridizes with Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer) near Harare, north-eastern Zimbabwe, and with Natal Francolin (Pternistis natalensis) in Bulawayo, south-western Zimbabwe.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
lundazi White, CMN, 1947 - Northern and western Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique.
swainsonii (Smith, 1836) - South-eastern Angola, northern Namibia and northern Zambia south to north-eastern South Africa (northern Natal, Transvaal).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet