Francolinus francolinus | black francolin

Black Francolin, photo by Sherman Wing

Introduced

Native to India, the black francolin was introduced to Hawaiʻi in 1959 as a gamebird. A little over a foot long, the male stands out with black feathers with white spots and white cheeks with a chestnut collar, while the female is brown with a rusty neck. Often in dry grasslands, they scare easily and hide from view and prefer running away rather than flushing.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.

Hotspots for black francolin

Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary

Wetland

Kawaiele State Waterbird Sanctuary, photo by DLNR
LookoutHikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Pihea Trail

Wet forest

Pihea Trail, photo by DOFAW
LookoutHikingParking

Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Kealia Pond NWR, photo by USFWS
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger StationPicnic areaTrash

Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary

Wetland

Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, photo by Jeff Bagshaw
LookoutParking

Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)

Dry forest

Hosmer Grove, NPS Photo by Megan Miller
LookoutHikingDrivingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger StationPicnic areaTrash

Keāhole Point

Coastal

LookoutParking

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park

Wetland

HikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger StationPicnic areaTrash

Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails

Wet forest

HikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail

Pasture and grasslandsDry forest

HikingBathroomParkingTrash

Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)

Pasture and grasslands

Driving

Palila Forest Discovery Trail

Dry forest

HikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail

Dry forest

HikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageTrash
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