North GroundHuntNorth Ground Hunt — return to North Ground
Species authority page

Gray francolin

Ortygornis pondicerianus · Upland game birds

Gray francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus): About a foot long, distinct rows of brown feathers with a pale face and throat. Sexes look similar; males may be slightly larger. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the gray francolin map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Ortygornis pondicerianus
Family
Phasianidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native to India; introduced to Hawaii. NatureServe records it in Hawaii.
Biology

How to identify it

About a foot long, distinct rows of brown feathers with a pale face and throat. [1][2][3]

Sexes look similar; males may be slightly larger. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Common in dry areas; easily found near hotel lawns and near roads at dawn and dusk. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Loud call often heard in the morning [1][2][3]

Common in dry areas; easily seen near lawns and roads at dawn and dusk (Hawaii) [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native to India; introduced to Hawaii. NatureServe records it in Hawaii.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. BIOLOGICALgray francolin

    State of Hawaii, Hawaii Birding Trails · reviewed 2026-09-30

    State of Hawaii, Hawaii Birding Trails

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology