Swainson's Francolin
Swainson's FrancolinSwainson's FrancolinSwainson's FrancolinSwainson's Francolin

Swainson's Francolin

Pternistis swainsonii

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
50–60% · Likely
overall probability at Gonarezhou National Park
65 Verified records at Gonarezhou National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Swainson's spurfowl or Swainson's francolin (Pternistis swainsonii) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae which is native to southern Africa. In the Shona language in Zimbabwe, this bird is called the chikwari or horwe and is considered a delicacy by outdoor and hunting enthusiasts. Swainson's spurfowl was named after William Swainson, an English ornithologist. Wikipedia →

50–60% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Francolin sighting in Gonarezhou National Park, based on 65 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Gonarezhou National Park

Natal Francolin
LC

Natal Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis natalensis

60–70% · Likely
Red-necked Francolin
LC

Red-necked Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis afer

Insufficient data
Crested Francolin
LC

Crested Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ortygornis sephaena

40–50% · Likely
Coqui Francolin
LC

Coqui Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campocolinus coqui

Insufficient data
Common Quail
LC

Common Quail

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Coturnix coturnix

Insufficient data
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

60–70% · Likely
Crested Guineafowl
LC

Crested Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Guttera pucherani

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

60–70
Jan
60–70
Feb
50–60
Mar
30–40
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
50–60
Jul
50–60
Aug
60–70
Sep
40–50
Oct
30–40
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
50–60%
2 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
40–50%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
4 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
30–40%
5 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
30–40%
6 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
7 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
30–40%
8 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
30–40%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
20–30%
10 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
11 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
12 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
13 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Swainson's Francolin in Gonarezhou National Park?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Swainson's Francolin sighting in Gonarezhou National Park, based on 65 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Swainson's Francolin in Gonarezhou National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Swainson's Francolin in Gonarezhou National Park in our monthly data.

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