KatherinLesina4: Started initial data v1

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Started initial data v1

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{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Painted francolin
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Francolinus pictus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22678722A92785072 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678722A92785072.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Painted Francolin in Bhigwan August 2025 by Tisha Mukherjee 02.jpg
| image_caption = in [[Bhigwan]], Maharashtra<br/>[[File:Painted Francolin 2 calls.ogg|thumb|Call]]
| genus = Francolinus
| species = pictus
| authority = ([[William Jardine (naturalist)|Jardine]] & [[Prideaux John Selby|Selby]], 1828)<ref>The species was designated as ''Perdix picta'' in Illus. Orn. plate 50. The bird skin came from John Atherton, a nephew of P J Selby and the type locality was designated as Bangalore. The [[holotype]] is in the Selby collection UMZC 14/Pha/22/aa/2.</ref>
| range_map = Francolinus_pictus_map.png
| synonyms = ''Perdix picta''<br/>''Perdix hepburnii''
}}

The '''painted francolin''' or '''painted partridge''' ('''''Francolinus pictus''''') is a species of [[francolin]] found in grassy areas in central and southern [[India]] and in the lowlands of southeastern [[Sri Lanka]]. [[Thomas C. Jerdon]] noted that the species was found mainly in Central India south of the Narmada and to the east of the Western Ghats as well as the Chota Nagpur and Northern Circars.<ref>{{cite book|page=562|title=The Birds of India. Volume 3|author=Jerdon TC|year=1864|publisher=George Wyman & Co|url=https://archive.org/details/birdsofindiabein03jerd}}</ref> It partly overlaps with the [[black francolin]] with which it partly overlaps and is said to sometimes hybridize. This species can be so distinguished from a black francolin female by the lack of a rufous hind collar and the white spots on the underside. The face is rufous and there is no dark stripe running behind the eye.

==Description==
[[File:Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus) Photograph by Shantanu Kuveskar.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]
This species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is distributed patchily from [[Rajasthan]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]] south into peninsular India (but not along the Malabar coast and rare south of Coimbatore<ref>{{cite book|title=Popular Handbook of Indian Birds. Fourth Edition.|author=Whistler, Hugh|year =1949|publisher=Gurney and Jackson|url=https://archive.org/details/popularhandbooko033226mbp|page=431}}</ref>) and in Sri Lanka. The species interbreeds with the [[black francolin]] along its northern<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/birdsindia04oaterich#page/137/mode/1up/|author=Blanford WT|pages=137–138|year=1898|publisher=Taylor and Francis, London|title= The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Birds. Volume 4}}</ref> and appears similar to the female of that species but has no rufous hindcollar, instead having a bright rufous face and throat. The underside has white spots while the legs are orange-yellow to red.<ref name=pcr>{{cite book|author1=Rasmussen PC |author2=JC Anderton |name-list-style=amp |year=2005|title=Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide.|publisher=Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions|volume=2|pages=120–121}}</ref> It is more arboreal in its habits than the black francolin.<ref>{{cite book|title=A handbook to the Game-Birds. Volume 1.|author=Ogilvie-Grant, WR|year=1895|volume=1|page=106|url=https://archive.org/details/handbooktogamebi01ogil}}</ref> The legs of both sexes have no spurs.<ref name=hume>{{cite book|pages=19–26|author1=Hume, AO |author2=CHT Marshall |name-list-style=amp |year=1880|title=The Game Birds of India, Burmah and Ceylon. Volume 2|publisher=Self published|url=https://archive.org/details/GameBirdsOfIndia2}}</ref>

The species was described by [[Prideaux John Selby|P. J. Selby]] based on a specimen obtained by his nephew John Atherton of [[Bangalore]] (commemorated in ''[[Nyctyornis athertoni]]''). The [[type locality (biology)|type locality]] has been designated as Bangalore although the specimen likely came from further north.<ref>{{cite book|first=Christine Elisabeth|last=Jackson|author2=Peter Davis|year=2001|title=Sir William Jardine: a life in natural history|publisher=Continuum International|isbn=0-7185-0164-0|page=208}}</ref>

Three subspecies have been named. The nominate population are from Central and South India south of 20°N while to the north is the form ''pallidus'' (type locality Udaipur). This form is paler on the upperparts.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Abdulali, Humayun |year=1979|title= On the validity of ''Francolinus pictus pallidus'' (J.E. Gray).|journal= J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.|volume=76|issue=2|page= 362|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48240749}}</ref> The Sri Lankan race is ''watsoni''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Baker, ECS |year=1922|title= Hand-list of the Birds of India. Part 7.|journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.|volume=28|issue=4|url=https://archive.org/stream/handlistofgenera00bake#page/203/mode/1up|pages=183–226}}</ref>

Populations change during and after the [[monsoon]]s, and hunters have been known to capture nearly 300 from some areas.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Abdulali, Humayun |year=1943|title= Local movements of the Painted Partridge (''Francolinus pictus'' Jard. & Selby) round Bombay. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. |volume=43|issue=4|pages= 658–660|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48228450}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Ogden, FCD |year=1943|title= Local movements of the Painted Partridge ''Francolinus pictus'' - around Bombay. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.|volume= 44|issue=2|page= 299|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48294882}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Ghate, RW |year=1975|title= The Painted Partridge on grassland round Nagpur airport. |journal=[[Newsletter for Birdwatchers]] |volume= 15|issue=9|page= 7}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
The distribution of this species is to the south of the range of the black francolin. It is found patchily distributed in semi-dry undulating grasslands with scrub or cultivation. It is found in drier areas than the black francolin but wetter zones than the [[grey francolin]].<ref name=hbk>{{cite book|author1=Ali, S |author2=S D Ripley |name-list-style=amp | title=Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan|edition=2nd|publisher=Oxford University Press|volume= 2|year= 1980 |pages =25–27 }}</ref>

In Sri Lanka, it is found in [[Bibila]] and Nilgala forest reserve of [[Gal Oya National Park]] in Uva plains.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rodrigo|first=Malaka|editor-last1=Handunnetti|editor-first1=Dilrukshi|title=An overlooked biocultural landscape in Sri Lanka receives overdue protection|url=https://news.mongabay.com/2025/06/an-overlooked-biocultural-landscape-in-sri-lanka-receives-overdue-protection/|newspaper=Mongabay}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Wait, WE|title=The distribution of birds in Ceylon and its relation to recent geological changes in the Island.|journal=Spolia Zeylanica |volume=10|year=1919|url=https://archive.org/details/spoliazeylanica10nati}}</ref>

==Behaviour and ecology==
[[File:Painted Francolin CME1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Painted francolin calling from a perch in Pune, India]]

[[File:Painted Francolin 2 calls sonogram.jpg|thumb|200px|Sonogram of call of painted francolin]]
They are not easy to spot but become vocal during the breeding season after the Monsoons, from June to October. The call is made in the early morning and has been described as guttural broken crow "chee-kee-kerray- Chee-kee-kerray" which is answered by other birds in the vicinity. A preliminary click may be heard when at close range. It is usually seen calling from an elevated position such as a mound, bush or tree stump.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jerdon, TC|year=1864|title=The Birds of India. Volume 3.|publisher=Military Orphan Press.|page=561|url=https://archive.org/stream/birdsofindiabein03jerd#page/560/mode/2up}}</ref> During the non-breeding season, they may call at dusk.<ref>{{cite journal|author= Abdulali, Humayun |year=1965|title= Some notes on the Painted Partridge [''Francolinus pictus'' (Jardine & Selby)] around Bombay: a correction. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. |volume=62|issue=1|page= 152|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47953525}}</ref> The nest is a scrape in the ground.<ref name=pcr/> Six or seven smoky white eggs are laid.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Barnes, HE |year=1886 |title= Birds' nesting in Rajpootana. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.|volume=1|issue=2|pages=38–62|url=https://archive.org/details/journalbombayna06socigoog}}</ref><ref name=notes>{{cite journal|author=Abdulali, Humayun |year=1964|title= Some notes on the Painted Partridge [''Francolinus pictus'' (Jardine & Selby)] around Bombay. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.|volume= 61|issue=2|pages=446–449|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48073014}}</ref>

They feed on grass seeds (including ''[[Brachiaria ramosa]]'') as well as grains of cultivated rice. Beetles and other insects are also eaten.<ref name=notes/><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kaul, Rahul |author2=Howmans |year=1992|title= Distribution and habitat requirements of the Northern Painted Francolin ''Francolinus pictus pallidus'' in Jamnagar, India. |journal=Gibier Faune Sauvage |volume=9|pages= 483–492}}</ref> They also feed on the tuberous roots of ''[[Cyperus rotundus]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Sharma, SC |year=1964|title= Winter food of the Painted Partridge [''Francolinus pictus'' (Jardine & Selby)] in Rajasthan. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. |volume=61|issue=3|pages=686–688| url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48073290}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author= David, A |year=1965|title= Winter food of the Painted Partridge [''Francolinus pictus'' (Jardine & Selby)] in Rajasthan. |journal=J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. |volume=62|issue=3|page=557|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47954032}}</ref>

When walking around it sometimes has the habit of cocking up its tail and when disturbed it usually freezes and flushes only when approached very close. It roosts in trees and sometimes also on the ground.<ref name=hbk/>

==In culture==
This bird appears in a 4.50 [[rupee]] [[Sri Lanka]]n postal stamp.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scharning|first=Kjell|title=Birds on stamps: Sri Lanka|url=http://www.birdtheme.org/country/srilanka.html|website=Theme Birds on Stamps}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=paifra1 Internet Bird Collection]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1263371}}

[[Category:Francolinus|painted francolin]]
[[Category:Birds of India]]
[[Category:Birds of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1828|painted francolin]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Sir William Jardine]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Prideaux John Selby|painted francolin]]
[[Category:Birds of South India]]

Painted francolin - Revision history

KatherinLesina4: Started initial data v1