Francolin (Francolinus), a genus of birds of the grouse family Tetraonidæ, closely allied to partridges. They are distinctly Ethiopian and Oriental birds, but one handsome species, the Black Francolin (F. vulgaris), used to be found in Spain, Italy, and Sicily, whence it has been hunted out. In Cyprus it still occurs, and has its home in Asia Minor, Palestine, and farther east.