The crested francolin is a common resident in northeastern South Africa and KZN. The voice is a loud, lilting crow chat ‘kikwerri-kwetchi’ repeated several times. The bird’s preferred habitat is bushveld, riverine forests and dense woodlands, especially around rocky koppies and cultivated lands. Usually found in pairs or small groups, they are very noisy at dusk and dawn. They often run with their tail cooked like a bantam. When escaping, they run into dense vegetation rather than fly. Crested francolins have an appetite for bulbs, seeds, berries and insects. They also nest on the ground, often under a bush. They are monogamous.
