About Scleroptila gutturalis (Rüppell, 1835)
The Orange River francolin, scientifically named Scleroptila gutturalis, is a bird species belonging to the family Phasianidae. It inhabits grassland and woodland habitats across Africa. Populations from the northern portion of its range, which includes Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya, have a neck-line that does not extend to the eye and a whitish belly. Populations from the southern portion of its range, which includes Angola, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Lesotho, have a neck-line that reaches the eye and a buff belly. This consistent morphological difference has led some taxonomic authorities to classify these two groups as separate species: the northern group is recognized as Archer's francolin (also called acacia francolin, S. gutturalis with the subspecies lorti), while the southern group is recognized as Orange River francolin (S. levaillantoides with the subspecies jugularis).
