The black francolin is a shy bird, unless it rains. The monsoon coincides with the francolin's breeding season. And as if on cue, the male picks a prominent perch and calls out persistently, warning off rivals and calling for a mate. The call has been interpreted differently across cultures, with people hearing all sorts of phrases in its notes. What do you hear?
A Roundglass Sustain filmDirected by Neha Dixit and Ashhar Farooqui
Updated August 01, 2026
A Roundglass Sustain filmDirected by Neha Dixit and Ashhar Farooqui
Updated August 01, 2026
6 min watch
The black francolin is a shy bird, unless it rains. The monsoon coincides with the francolin's breeding season. And as if on cue, the male picks a prominent perch and calls out persistently, warning off rivals and calling for a mate. The call has been interpreted differently across cultures, with people hearing all sorts of phrases in its notes. What do you hear?
Watch the film in English. To turn on subtitles, click on the CC icon at the bottom of the YouTube video. A red line will appear under the icon once the subtitles have been enabled. Thumbnail: Ashhar Farooqui
Watch the film in Hindi. Thumbnail Image: Tanmay Haldar/Getty Images
