Breeding biology of grey francolin (francolinus pondicerianus) in salt range,Pakistan

Present study documented some aspects of breeding biology of grey francolin (francolinus pondicerianus) such as breeding season,nest structure,clutch size,incubation period and hatching success in the salt range of punjab,one of important area of grey francolin distribution in pakistan. breeding season of grey francolin in the study area extended from mid march to end of july. all of its nests located during the study were found on the ground in natural vegetation consisting of acacia modesta,acacia nilotica,ziziphus mauritiana,dalbergia sissoo,desmostachia bipinnata and cynodon dactylon. egg laying occurred mainly in the months of april and may,having mean egg laying span of 12.1±1.20 days (range 7-18 days) and a mean clutch size of 6.8±0.78 eggs per nest (range 4-12). mean incubation period was 15.7±1.86 days (range 13-20 days). out of a total of 68 eggs located in various nests,53 hatched (74.80%) with a mean hatching rate of 5.3±0.85 eggs per clutch. the fledging success was estimated at 4.6±0.81 per clutch (77%). no difference was found between forest and cultivated habitats with respect to diameter and shape of nest,egg laying period,clutch size,egg weight,and incubation period,however,volume of the eggs was significantly more in cultivated habitat (anova: f = 4.09; df = 1; p = 0.01) as compared to the natural forest habitat. study suggested that grey francolin's successful breeding in salt range is mainly associated with natural vegetation and crop cultivated fields around natural vegetation,which supports its healthy population copy; 2016 zoological society of pakistan.