Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). In addition, although it is suspected to have declined and to continue declining in the future, the rate of population reduction is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For this reason, the species has been classified as Least Concern.
Further work is required to allow the creation of a reasonable population size estimate, which if found to be smaller than suspected and there is evidence of a continuing decline, for example through loss from previously occupied sites, then the species may require reassessment at a higher threat category in the future.
Population justification
The global population has not been quantified, but the species is considered fairly common within its range in Tanzania and northern Uganda (McGowan et al. 2020, J. Bradley in litt. 2024), although there are very few records from Kenya (Kenya Bird Map 2023). Given recent records and the specificity of its habitat, it is thought to be moderately small. More data on the species' population size are needed.
Trend justification
The species was previously described as common to abundant, and recent records suggest it is still well distributed from north-western Uganda down at least to north-western Tanzania (eBird 2023). It is estimated that, in Uganda, where it is likely the majority of the population occurs, ongoing subsistence agriculture encroachment on grasslands will continue into the future (Mwanjalolo et al. 2018). This threat could be currently impacting the species depending on its adaptability to cultivated land. On the other hand, many recent records for this species come from national parks (eBird 2023). Assuming that such networks of protected areas are effectively implemented, it is likely that future declines in such areas will be particularly low, leading to an overall lower risk of extinction for this species. Overall, a past reduction at a slow to moderate rate, and a slow ongoing and future reduction, is suspected, but more data on the species' population trend are needed.
Scleroptila streptophora has a disjunct distribution, with populations in Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Recent records from Uganda, where it is considered uncommon to fairly common (J. Bradley in litt. 2024), have found it in the north and north-east of the country, but most come from the country's west, where it has been recorded from the Northern Region and the White Nile, down Lake Albert and Lake Edward, including records from Murchison Falls, Semuliki, Kibale, Kidepo, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Parks (eBird 2023, Carswell et al. 2005). Previously found in Kenya from the southern slopes of Mount Elgon to the Samia Hills and the Nyando Valley (Brown et al. 1982), it has disappeared from most of Kenya, except in the west, towards the Mara North Conservancy, where it is recorded sporadically (Lewis and Pomeroy 1989, Kenya Bird Map 2023) and is present in north-western and western Tanzania (John et al. 2019, eBird 2023). It is considered a rare and local resident of the western highlands of Cameroon (Borrow and Demey 2014), but have been no recent records from the country and recent attempts to locate it failed (Borrow and Demey 2014). A 2005 specimen from Cameroon was used for a recent phylogeny of the group (Mandiwana-Neudani et al. 2019). It is recorded from Ruvubu National Park in Burundi (G. Citegetse in litt. 2006) and in western Rwanda, mainly in Akagera National Park (eBird 2023, Stevenson and Fanshawe 2002). One single record has also been returned from Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but remains to be confirmed (observation.org 2023).
More information on the species' range, particularly recent records from the edges of its current known range, are needed.
This species inhabits open, stony hillsides with sparse grass and shrub cover, wooded grasslands, and may also occur in cultivated fields, at 600-1,800 m (McGowan and Kirwan 2020). It is very shy, flushes reluctantly and usually silently, usually encountered in pairs or small parties, and is most active at dawn.
Suspected declines are thought to be being driven by land-use change from grassland to intensive agricultural or intensive pasture/livestock farming; for example, in the vicinity of Lake Mburo National Park suitable habitat for the species on the edge of the park continues to be rapidly converted to agriculture (J. Bradley in litt. 2024).
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs within several National Parks in Uganda, Mahale Mountains National Park and Malagarasi-Muyovozi Ramsar Site in Tanzania, Akagera National Park in Rwanda and Ruvubu National Park in Burundi. It is considered well protected where it occurs in the protected areas to the east of the Albertine Rift (J. Bradley in litt. 2024).
35 cm. Typical francolin with a dark brown back, dark flank stripes, bold white supercilium extending to the nape, red-brown face and neck sides, white throat and a black and white spotted collar. Has yellow legs. Similar spp. recalls Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena but that species has red legs and lacks the bold flank stipes. Collar of Crested is less defined, and it lacks the red-brown face. Voice utters two, soft, dove-like coos
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Contributors
Bradley, J., Citegetse, G., Mills, M., Pomeroy, D. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ring-necked Francolin Scleroptila streptophora. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ring-necked-francolin-scleroptila-streptophora on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.