Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, Africa, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaiʻi in 1957 as a gamebird. About 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut colored feathers on the top of their head with a white throat. Often in upland dry grasslands, they scare easily and hide from view and prefer running away rather than flushing. Listen for their loud laughing cackle, especially in the morning.

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