Painted spurfowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Painted spurfowl |
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| Individual from Ranthambore National Park | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Galloperdix
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| Species: |
lunulata
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| Synonyms | |
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Francolinus hardwickii |
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The painted spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata) is a cool bird from the pheasant family. You can find it in rocky hills and scrub forests, mostly in India. These birds are known for their bright colors. Males are especially colorful with bold white spots. Both males and females have sharp spurs on their legs, which are like little spikes. Males usually have two to four spurs, while females might have one or two. Unlike some other spurfowls, this species prefers dry, rocky areas. They usually stay hidden in the undergrowth in pairs or small groups. If they feel threatened, they prefer to run away rather than fly.
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What They Look Like
This spurfowl is special because it doesn't have any bare skin on its face, which is different from the red spurfowl. The male painted spurfowl has a black tail and yellowish-brown (ochre) feathers on its belly. These colors stand out against its darker upper body. The feathers on its upper parts have white spots with black edges, making them look very fancy.
Male and Female Differences
The male's head and neck are black with a shiny green look and tiny white spots. Its back, rump, and wing feathers are a chestnut brown color. The female, however, is much less colorful. She has a reddish-brown eyebrow and ear feathers. Her throat is pale and has spots, just like the male, but her body doesn't have the white spots. Both males and females have dark grey beaks and legs. Males have two to four spurs on their legs, while females can have one or two. Sometimes, they carry their tail pointing upwards.
Where They Live
The painted spurfowl lives in certain parts of India. You can find them in the Aravalli mountains in Rajasthan, the hills of central India (like Pachmarhi), and the rocky, dry forest areas of southern India. They have also been seen in the Nallamala region, which is in the Andhra Pradesh part of the Eastern Ghats.
Preferred Habitat
Their home is usually drier than where the red spurfowl lives. In southern India, they like rocky hills with scrubby slopes. This is the same kind of place where you might find the yellow-throated bulbul, another bird species.
Behavior and Life
Painted spurfowls are usually found in pairs or small family groups, with up to six birds. They tend to stay hidden in the thick plants on the ground and rarely fly. Their call is a loud, repeated sound that sounds like chuguk.
What They Eat
These birds eat different things like berries, including those from Ziziphus oenoplia and Lantana camara plants. They also munch on insects and flowers, such as those from the Madhuca longifolia tree. In the early morning, they often visit waterholes to drink.
Reproduction and Chicks
The breeding season for painted spurfowls is usually from January to June, but mostly in February. However, chicks have been seen in August in some parts of Rajasthan, after the rainy season. When a male wants to attract a female, he might offer her food that he holds in his beak. Spurfowls are thought to stay with one partner for life (monogamous).
Their nest is a simple scrape on the ground, often under a large rock, and lined with leaves. The female usually lays three to four pale, creamy eggs, but sometimes up to five. Only the female sits on the eggs to keep them warm. However, both parents help take care of the chicks once they hatch. If a predator comes near, the parents will try to distract it by pretending to be hurt, leading the danger away from their babies.
Images for kids
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Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata). Daroji Sloth bear sanctuary, India
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Male and female
