Cape Spurfowl
Pternistis capensis
Despite being birds, they are highly terrestrial and will almost always choose to outrun a predator on foot rather than fly.
- Scientific name
- Pternistis capensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Galliformes › Phasianidae › Pternistis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Fynbos, coastal scrub, agricultural edges, and suburban gardens.
- Diet
- Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, fallen fruit, bulbs, insects, and small snails.
- Range
- South Africa (Western Cape), South Africa (Eastern Cape)
- Size
- 40-43 cm in length, weighing 600-900 grams.
- Lifespan
- 5-8 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Local habitat fragmentation due to urban development, domestic pet predation, and pesticide use in agricultural areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and generally shy. Maintain a respectful distance of 5 to 10 meters. They prefer to run rather than fly when startled. If cornered, they may flap or scratch defensively with their leg spurs. In the unlikely event of a scratch, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
The Cape spurfowl , or Cape francolin ( Pternistis capensis ) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. This francolin is endemic to the southwestern Cape of South Africa.
Photo: Alan Manson, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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