Medium-sized, beautifully-patterned francolin. Shows rufous patches in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, ranging from pure grassland to lush woodland. Mostly at low and moderate elevations, but sometimes found in high mountain grassland. Call is a rhythmic up-and-down repeated “chil-it, chil-chow”. Generally scarce, shy, and retiring. Range does not overlap extensively with similar francolins. Combination of complex facial pattern and belly heavily barred black-and-white are always diagnostic. Much more cleanly and boldly marked than the more washed-out and buffy Whyte’s Francolin.