The combination of bare red face and throat, black bill and blackish brown legs differentiates this species from all other spurfowl and francolins in the region.
Female lacks the spurs of male. The red on the face of juvenile is less extensive and paler than in adult.
Dry thornveld and agricultural lands, usually in groups of three to five.
A raucous 'krraae-krraae-krraae', given by males at dawn and dusk.