Ecological determinants of avian population dynamics are essential for effective wildlife management and conservation. Black and grey francolins are classified as being of least concern by the IUCN and are an ecologically significant bird in the northern regions of Pakistan. Although habitat degradation and overhunting have adversely affected their populations, research on the population structure and habitat preferences of the Totali Game Reserve, Buner District, Pakistan, remains limited. The present study applied distance sampling via the line transect method to estimate population densities and the quadrat method to assess vegetation characteristics across three distinct habitats. A statistical analysis revealed significant variations in densities across the three habitat types—agricultural lands, agroforests, and pasturelands—with both species exhibiting distinct preferences for pastureland ecosystems. Seasonal trends indicated that autumn represented the peak period for the population, driven by post-breeding surges and optimal habitat conditions. Moreover, both species demonstrated a strong affinity for habitats dominated by specific plant species, including hopbush, raspberry, barberry, and blackberry, which provide a critical resource for food, foraging, nesting, and shelter. These findings highlight the ecological importance of pasturelands and specific vegetation types for supporting the survival of these species. Furthermore, conservation efforts should prioritize the preservation and restoration of pastureland ecosystems and incorporate rigorous monitoring programs to guide adaptive management strategies aimed at mitigating population declines.

The winter diet of Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) is poorly documented in Totali Public Game Reserve, Pakistan. We examined crop contents from 24 legally harvested birds (14 males and 10 females) collected during 2022–2024. Thirty-three identifiable food taxa were recorded, comprising 22 plant and 11 animal taxa, together with unidentified plant and animal material. Dietary composition was quantified using frequency of occurrence, numerical abundance, mass percentage, and importance value (IV%). Plant material dominated numerically, with Poaceae (IV = 57.1%) and Fabaceae (IV = 25.7%) contributing most strongly among plant families, whereas Formicidae dominated the animal component (IV = 70.8%). Dietary indices were Shannon–Wiener H’ = 2.34, Simpson’s 1-D = 0.84, Pielou’s J’ = 0.67, and standardized Levins’ niche breadth B_sta = 0.16, indicating an uneven winter diet concentrated in a limited subset of resources despite the number of taxa recorded. Body mass, crop mass, and dry food mass did not differ significantly between sexes. Body mass was positively correlated with crop mass (r = 0.61, p = 0.001) and dry food mass (r = 0.59, p = 0.002). These findings provide a site-specific description of the winter diet and a baseline for future seasonal, multi-site, and resource-availability studies.