Nahan's partridge explained

Nahan's partridge (Ptilopachus nahani), also known as the Nahan's francolin, is a bird traditionally placed in the family Phasianidae. As suggested by its alternative name, it was formerly believed to be a francolin and placed either in Francolinus or Pternistis, but it is now known that its closest relative is the stone partridge and together may in fact be the only African representatives of the New World quails (Odontophoridae).^{[1] [2]}

Description

At about 25cm (10inches) in length, the Nahan's partridge is a relatively small, terrestrial bird with a red eye-ring, legs and base of the bill, brownish upperparts, and black-and-white underparts and head.

Distribution and habitat

This endangered species is found in the rainforests in northeastern DR Congo and western Uganda,^[3] and it is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

Notes and References

1. Crowe, T. M., Bowie, R.C.K., Bloomer, P., Mandiwana, T.G., Hedderson, T.A.J., Randi, E., Pereira, S., & Wakeling, J. (2006). Phylogenetics, biogeography and classification of, and character evolution in, gamebirds (Aves: Galliformes): Effects of character exclusion, data partitioning and missing data. Cladistics 22: 495-532.
2. Crowe, T. (2010). Phylogenetic affinities of enigmatic African galliforms: the Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus and Latham's and Nahan's 'Francolins' Francolinus lathami and F. nahani. Cladistics 26: 206-206. (Abstract).
3. McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Nahan's francolin (Francolinus nahani). Pp. 497 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.