Hawaii Bird Guide
Grey Francolin
The grey francolin is a loud ground bird of dry grass, kiawe country and roadsides, first brought to Hawaii in 1958.
Grey Francolin Overview
The grey francolin is an introduced ground bird first brought to Hawaii in 1958. It is now common on Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, and it also appears in some parts of Oahu, including around Diamond Head and Lualualei Valley.
This bird prefers dry, open places rather than wet forests or busy shoreline ponds. Look for it in grasslands, shrublands, coastal kiawe forests, golf courses and along roadsides, where it often stays low and moves through cover.
Habitat and Behavior
Grey francolins are easier to hear than to see. Their calls carry across dry open areas, especially in the morning or late afternoon. On the ground, their patterned plumage helps them blend into grass, dirt and brush.
In Hawaii's bird guide, the grey francolin fits with other introduced upland and dry-country birds such as Gambel's quail and kalij pheasant. It is very different from wetland birds like the Hawaiian stilt, which depends on ponds and marshes.
