Crested Francolin

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Hwange National Park
82 Verified sightings at Hwange National Park From 2019 to 2026
12,294 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Crested Francolin

The crested francolin (Ortygornis sephaena) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in southern Africa. One of its subspecies, Ortygornis sephaena rovuma, is sometimes considered a separate species, Kirk's francolin.

Formerly, the crested francolin was classified in its own genus Dendroperdix, but phylogenetic analysis indicates that it groups with the grey francolin (O. pondicerianus) and swamp francolin (O. gularis). As a result, all three species were reclassified into the genus Ortygornis.

Subspecies include: Ortygornis sephaena grantii (Hartlaub, 1866) Ortygornis sephaena rovuma (Gray, GR, 1867) - Kirk's francolin Ortygornis sephaena sephaena (Smith, A, 1836) Ortygornis sephaena spilogaster (Salvadori, 1888)

Ortygornis sephaena zambesiae (Mackworth-Praed, 1920) Crested Francolin - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Hwange National Park

Swainson's Francolin
LC

Swainson's Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis swainsonii

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Red-billed Francolin
LC

Red-billed Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis adspersus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Coqui Francolin
LC

Coqui Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campocolinus coqui

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Natal Francolin
LC

Natal Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis natalensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Shelley's Francolin
LC

Shelley's Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Scleroptila shelleyi

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Harlequin Quail
LC

Harlequin Quail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coturnix delegorguei

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Peafowl
LC

Common Peafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pavo cristatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Crested Guineafowl
LC

Crested Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Guttera pucherani

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~70%
2 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
3 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
4 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~50%
5 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
6 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
7 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
8 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
9 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
10 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
11 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
12 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
13 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
15 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~30%
16 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
17 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
18 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
19 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
20 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
21 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
22 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~20%
23 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
24 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
25 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
26 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
27 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
28 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
29 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
30 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
31 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
32 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
33 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
34 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
35 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
36 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
37 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
38 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
39 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
40 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
41 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
42 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
43 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
44 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
45 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Crested Francolin in Hwange National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Francolin sighting in Hwange National Park, based on 82 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Crested Francolin in Hwange National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Crested Francolin in Hwange National Park in our monthly data.

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