Cape Spurfowl in de Hoop Nature Reserve
These kind of ground-loving game birds are always fun to see, and especially one like this with a range limited to the Southwest Cape region of South Africa. However, they are very tame and easy to see at the de Hoop NR, hanging out in the garden of the lodge at most hours.
The Cape Spurfowl, or Cape Francolin is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae. This francolin is endemic to the southwestern Cape of South Africa.
The Cape Francolin is a bird of scrubby open areas, preferably close to running water. Its nest is a grass-lined scrape under a bush, and six to eight eggs are laid . This species can become very tame if disturbance is limited, and will feed in gardens, by roadsides, or with farmyard chickens. It will run rather than fly if disturbed.
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