Notes on moult in Crested Francolin, Francolinus Sephaena

摘要

Very few published data exist on moult for the genus Francolinus (Hall 1963). Mentis (1973) showed that in Greywing Francolins, Francolinus africanus, and Redwing Francolins, F. levaillantoides, moulting birds could be found in any month, but that most active primary moult was post-breeding, peaking from January to April. Breeding was from July to August and from January to February. This note describes the moult of Crested Francolin, F. sephaena. Live specimens of Crested Francolin were examined as part of a wider field research project conducted on the farm La Boheme in the Rustenburg district (20 deg 50 min S, 26 deg 58 min E) of South Africa. In total, 55 adult francolins were trapped, ringed and released during 1984 and 1985. No apparent differences were observed between male and female moult patterns. Of 42 francolins examined during the period March to May, 20 (48 percent) renewed primary and 23 (54 percent) secondary wing feathers. Only three birds were in secondary moult without primary moult, which showed a high incidence of simultaneous moult (87 percent). Eighteen (43 percent) showed active moult of the body feathers and five (12 percent) showed renewed rectrices from March to May.