Hartlaub's Spurfowl - Behaviour and Diet

Behaviour and Diet

Habitat use, foraging behaviour and diet of male and female Hartlaub's Spurfowl are related to the availability of corms, seed and insects of different sizes in different habitats. Hartlaub's Francolin primarily forage on granitic outcrops, and use a variety of feeding techniques, with significant sexual differences in foraging behaviour and, to a lesser degree, dietary composition.

Males consume a greater diversity of food items than females, although there is considerable dietary overlap between the sexes, and sexual differences in feeding techniques result in some food items being prioritized by each sex. In particular, distinct functional differences results from females' almost exclusive digging habits, in contrast to males' wider range of foraging techniques, including an apparently male-specific foraging technique of exposing cryptic termites.

The relatively larger-billed females specializes on digging out the corms of Cyperus sp which, within the species, appears to be primarily carried out by females, with males spending proportionally more time foraging for a more diverse diet of insects and seed. It is hypothesized that this sexual difference in diet is adaptive, in response to predator and sexual selection pressures. The relatively narrow dietary spectrum of female Hartlaub's Francolins may be a causative factor in vigorous perennial defence of territorial resources.

Hartlaub's Francolins occur in pairs or small family parties of 3-4 and are inconspicuous unless calling . They are not easily flushed, preferring to hide between boulders. Flushed birds will utter a rapid, chattering 'krak', flying rapidly.

Red-billed Francolin and Orange River Francolin occur alongside this species, but they occupy different habitats. The Red-billed Francolin prefers bush along watercourses and Orange River Francolin can be found on the slopes leading up to the rocky outcrops occupied by the Hartlaub's Francolin .