Faecal analysis of Nahan's Francolin Francolinus nahani, Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda

Abstract

We studied home ranges, habitat use and survival of radio‐tagged Nahan’s Francolin in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda during July 1998–December 1999. We studied Nahan’s Francolin in an unlogged nature reserve, in a compartment logged in 1947–1952 and in a compartment logged twice, in 1963–1964 and 1996–1997. Mean home range was 14.22 ± 1.35 ha (n = 17). The home range was significantly larger in the nature reserve than in the recently logged compartment. Birds spent more time during the day in areas with high understorey vegetation density but preferred to roost and nest between buttresses of large trees. Understorey vegetation density and canopy openness were significantly greater in the logged forest than in the nature reserve. Annual survival of adult Nahan’s Francolins was 20.09 ± 7.33% (n = 23). Our results suggest that the maintenance of large trees and areas with high understorey vegetation density are both important for Nahan’s Francolin.

Phylogenetic affinities of evolutionarily enigmatic African galliforms: the Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus and Nahan's Francolin Francolinus nahani, and support for their sister relationship with New World quails

“…, Sande et al . ), and its voice has only been described relatively recently (Chappuis , Stevenson & Fanshawe ), thus hampering the correct taxonomic placement of this species. The calls of both F. nahani and P. petrosus are a series of whistles increasing in volume, and are strikingly similar (Fig.…”

“…, Sande et al . ). First placed by Dubois () in the genus Francolinus , it was subsequently moved by Chapin () into a monotypic genus, Acentrortyx .…”

Foods of hunter-killed Black Francolins (Francolinus francolinus) in Cyprus

“…The francolins' diet is composed mainly of ground-dwelling invertebrates (Swank 1977;Mbinkar et al 2005;Sande et al 2006) and…”

“…Stomach content analysis is an accurate and precise method for the study of game birds' diet (Rosenberg and Cooper 1990) unlike feces analysis, which is quite difficult, time-consuming, and the quantity of insects may be underestimated (Sande et al 2006). However, stomach content analysis can also lead to bias because of the tendency of the stomach to retain large hard parts and allow small soft items to pass into the intestines (Sutherland 2004).…”

Distribution and phenological data of some bird species of Uganda

“…All of the habitats, where it was heard were mature forests with dense understorey vegetation along the Royal Mile. According to the literature, as well as our observation, it prefers the dense understorey, shy and very difficult to see them (Madge & McGowan 2002, Sande et al 2009). …”