Picture of the day

👁 Painted francolin

The painted francolin (Francolinus pictus), or painted partridge, is a species of francolin in the family Phasianidae. It is found in central and southern India and parts of Sri Lanka, residing in semi-dry undulating grasslands with scrub or cultivation. The painted francolin typically roosts in trees or on the ground and has a rufous face, white-spotted underparts, and orange-yellow to red legs. It feeds on seeds, grains and insects, and nests in a scrape on the ground, laying several eggs. The species is sometimes vocal, especially during the monsoon season, emitting a guttural broken "chee-kee-kerray" call. This painted francolin was photographed in Bhigwan in the Indian state of MaharashtraPhotograph credit: Tisha Mukherjee