Elgon francolin

The Elgon francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema elgonensis) is a francolin found in moorland at altitudes above 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) from eastern Uganda (Mount Elgon) to central Kenya.[2][3] Most recent authorities treat it as a subspecies of the moorland francolin.[2][3][4][5][6] Alternatively, it has been suggested that it is a species (S. elgonensis), a subspecies of the Shelley's francolin (S. shelleyi elgonensis),[2] or even a hybrid between the moorland and red-winged francolins.[7] It was described by Ogilvie-Grant in 1891 as Francolinus elgonensis, and some authorities still use the genus Francolinus for all members otherwise placed in Scleroptila.[2][5] The Elgon francolin resembles the nominate subspecies of the moorland francolin, but the latter is duller (less rufescent) and has a black-dotted throat.[2]

Elgon francolin
Illustration by Keulemans, 1893
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Scleroptila
Species:
S. psilolaema
Subspecies:
S. p. elgonensis
Trinomial name
Scleroptila psilolaema elgonensis
Synonyms

Scleroptila elgonensis
Scleroptila shelleyi elgonensis
Francolinus elgonensis
Francolinus psilolaema elgonensis
Francolinus shelleyi elgonensis

References
  1. BirdLife International (2014). "Scleroptila psilolaema". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Moorland Francolin (Francolinus elgonensis). Pp. 494 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelon. ISBN 84-87334-15-6
  3. Zimmerman, D. A., Turner, D. A., & Pearson, D. J. (1999). Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-5079-6
  4. Sinclair, I., & Ryan, P. (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Struik Publishers, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-857-9
  5. Dickinson, E. C. eds. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd edition. ISBN 0-7136-6536-X
  6. Clements, J. F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1
  7. McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of avian hybrids of the world. Oxford University Press US. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-19-518323-8.
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