{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{speciesbox | name = Elgon francolin | image = FrancolinusElgonensisKeulemans.jpg | image_caption = Illustration by Keulemans, 1893 | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2024 |title=''Scleroptila elgonensis'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T22727349A238230887 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22727349A238230887.en |access-date=4 June 2025}}</ref> | genus = Scleroptila | species = elgonensis | authority = (Ogilvie-Grant, 1891) | synonyms = ''Scleroptila psilolaema elgonensis''<br /> ''Scleroptila shelleyi elgonensis''<br /> ''Francolinus elgonensis''<br /> ''Francolinus psilolaema elgonensis''<br /> ''Francolinus shelleyi elgonensis'' }}
The '''Elgon francolin''' ('''''Scleroptila elgonensis''''') is a francolin found in moorland at altitudes above {{convert|2300|m|ft}} from eastern Uganda (Mount Elgon) to central Kenya.<ref name=HBW>McGowan, P. J. K. (1994). Moorland Francolin (''Francolinus elgonensis''). Pp. 494 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (1994). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World.'' Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{ISBN|84-87334-15-6}}</ref><ref name=KenyaTanzania>Zimmerman, D. A., Turner, D. A., & Pearson, D. J. (1999). ''Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania''. Christopher Helm, London. {{ISBN|0-7136-5079-6}}</ref><ref name=subsahara>Sinclair, I., & Ryan, P. (2003). ''Birds of Africa south of the Sahara.'' Struik Publishers, Cape Town. {{ISBN|1-86872-857-9}}</ref><ref name=HowardMoore>Dickinson, E. C. eds. (2003). ''The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World''. 3rd edition. {{ISBN|0-7136-6536-X}}</ref><ref>Clements, J. F. (2007). ''The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World''. Christopher Helm, London. {{ISBN|978-0-7136-8695-1}}</ref>
It was described by Ogilvie-Grant in 1891 as ''Francolinus elgonensis'', and some authorities still use the genus ''Francolinus'' for all members otherwise placed in ''Scleroptila''.<ref name="HBW" /><ref name="HowardMoore" /> It was previously considered a subspecies of the moorland francolin (''S. psilolaema''), which is now thought to be endemic to Ethiopia.<ref name="HBW" /> Alternatively, it was suggested as a subspecies of the Shelley's francolin (''S. shelleyi elgonensis''),<ref name="HBW" /> or even a hybrid between the moorland and red-winged francolins.<ref name="hybrid">{{cite book |title= Handbook of avian hybrids of the world |author= McCarthy, Eugene M. |year= 2006|publisher= Oxford University Press US |isbn= 978-0-19-518323-8|page= 50 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwInO7z_Y3oC&q=Francolinus+elgonensis&pg=PA49 }}</ref> However, it was split as a distinct species by the IUCN Red List and BirdLife International in 2014, and by the International Ornithological Congress in 2022 based on a 2019 study.<ref>{{Cite web|last=abc_admin|date=2019-05-13|title=Elgon Francolin ''Scleroptila elgonensis'' should be treated as a species distinct from Moorland Francolin ''S. psilolaema''|url=https://www.africanbirdclub.org/bulletins/abc-bulletin-261-april-2019/elgon-francolin-scleroptila-elgonensis-should-be-treated|access-date=2022-01-29|website=African Bird Club|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129214315/https://www.africanbirdclub.org/bulletins/abc-bulletin-261-april-2019/elgon-francolin-scleroptila-elgonensis-should-be-treated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=IOC World Bird List 12.1|website=IOC World Bird List Datasets|language=en-US|doi=10.14344/ioc.ml.12.1}}</ref> The Elgon francolin resembles the moorland francolin, but the latter is duller (less rufescent) and has a black-dotted throat, and also differs in vocalizations.<ref name="HBW" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Elgon francolin Category:Birds of East Africa Elgon francolin