The black francolin is a game bird in the pheasant family. The male has a black head with a brown crown, with a white patch below and behind the eye. The bill and eyes are black. The upper mandible is slightly downcurved to allow digging the soil. The breast is black with white spots on the sides. There is a cinnamon collar. The back and wings are brown and edged in white. The lower back and tail are striated black and white. The tail is short and round. The legs are reddish. The female is mostly mottled brown. Juveniles are similar to females. The length of the black francolin is around 14 inches (35 cm).