LC
Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Pternistis leucoscepus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously placed in the genus Francolinus.

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 3,460,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing - suspected -
Generation length 5.54 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be common (del Hoyo et al. 1994, Fuller et al. 2000). This species is still widespread and common, despite some local extinctions. Major threats include over-hunting and increased human populations, although the species adapts well to agricultural land and only retreats from densely populated areas (del Hoyo et al. 1994).

Trend justification: This species is still widespread and common, despite some local extinctions. Major threats include over-hunting and increased human populations, although the species adapts well to agricultural land and only retreats from densely populated areas (del Hoyo et al. 1994).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Djibouti extant native yes
Eritrea extant native yes
Ethiopia extant native yes
Kenya extant native yes
Somalia extant native yes
South Sudan extant native yes
Sudan extant native
Tanzania extant native yes
Uganda extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Djibouti Ali Sabieh - Assâmo
Eritrea Danakil lowlands
Eritrea Gulf of Zula
Ethiopia Arero forest
Ethiopia Awash National Park
Ethiopia Dawa - Wachile
Ethiopia Eastern Hararghe (Harar-Wabi Shebelle)
Ethiopia Lake Chew Bahir
Ethiopia Lower Wabi Shebelle river and Warder
Ethiopia Mago National Park
Ethiopia Mankubsa - Welenso forest
Ethiopia Nechisar National Park and surroundings
Ethiopia Omo National Park
Ethiopia Yabello Sanctuary
Ethiopia Yangudi-Rassa National Park
Kenya Amboseli National Park
Kenya Dida Galgalu desert
Kenya Lake Baringo
Kenya Meru National Park
Kenya Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves
Kenya Shaba National Reserve
Kenya Tsavo East National Park
Kenya Tsavo West National Park
Somalia Arbowerow
Somalia Balcad Nature Reserve
Somalia Boja swamps
Somalia Boorama plains
Somalia Buulobarde
Somalia Daalo
Somalia Far Waamo
Somalia Gacan Libaax
Somalia Jowhar - Warshiikh
Somalia Laag Badaana
Somalia Laag Dheere
Somalia Saylac
Somalia Xawaadley reservoir
South Sudan Imatong mountains
South Sudan Kidepo
Tanzania Lake Balangida Lelu
Tanzania Lake Manyara
Tanzania Lake Natron and Engaruka basin
Tanzania Longido Game Controlled Area
Tanzania Mkomazi National Park
Tanzania Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tanzania Nyumba ya Mungu reservoir
Tanzania Ruaha National Park
Tanzania Serengeti National Park
Tanzania Tarangire National Park
Tanzania Wembere steppe
Uganda Kidepo Valley National Park
Uganda Mount Moroto Forest Reserve

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable Land suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 2400 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Yellow-necked Spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-necked-spurfowl-pternistis-leucoscepus on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.