Cyprus -Nature- Birds - The Black Francolin

This most striking bird for its plumage which has become extinct in all European countries, is a resident bird of Cyprus. Like the Chukar it belongs to the Phasianidae family but the sexes are different in appearance. The male is predominantly black with white on the cheek, a bright chestnut collar and white spots on the flanks. The back and wings are mottled shades of golden brown with sub terminal tawny-buff bands and pale edges. The tail is black with narrow white bars. The female has the upper plumage, wings and tail as in the male but the black is replaced by mottled brown and the brown bars on the lower back and tail are wider.

Its habitat is confined in the SW and on the Karpas peninsula. Recently it has been expanding its range. It is usually found in the coastal lowlands but also up to 20 Km. inland in valleys of the South West.

Black francolins appear to be well adapted to cultivated crops, tall enough to offer shelter and open beneath to provide escape routes and easy travel. Their south western habitat includes cereals, vegetables, vineyards. They are not forest birds but will frequent brush land and wood edges associated with grass land. They appear to be more closely associated to water than chukars are, and in drier areas they frequent stream banks and adjacent tall grasses and weeds. Francolins normally nest from late March to May and Clutches are normally between 10 to 14 eggs. Young appear in April through June.

A plump, fast running bird which keeps to the undergrowth, the black francolin only flies when disturbed. Then, "exploding" from cover, it flies fast whirring low. The male may be seen standing on a rock or low tree attracting attention with its extraordinary creaking call. It may be heard all day long in April, during nesting, and less persistently in March and May as well as the summer months.