The Elgon Francolin was treated as a species distinct from Moorland Francolin in a 2019 paper. The paper discusses highland populations in eastern Uganda and Kenya and describes plumage in detail for the Mt Kenya subspecies, theresae.
The Mt Kenya subspecies S. e. theresae has a rufous mantle and breast, large black breast spots, and a plain throat bordered by a black bar.
Elgon Francolins inhabit the high mountains of Kenya and Uganda, using Erica moorland and short grassland in pairs or family groups. Their pale throat and black-spotted rufous breast accompany a repeated advertisement call.
A 2019 study compared calls from Mount Kenya and the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. The Mount Kenya recording analysed was made in April 2016. It contained repeated three-note calls: a relatively long, complex first note, a pause, then a very short note followed almost immediately by a longer one.
The Ethiopian recording instead repeated two-note calls. The Mount Kenya call combined clear, whistle-like sounds with rougher sounds. Together with differences in throat and breast plumage, the vocal structure supported treating the Kenyan and Ugandan birds as a species separate from the Ethiopian birds.
IUCN Red List · Least Concern · Global
The 2024 IUCN global assessment lists Elgon Francolin as Least Concern with a decreasing population trend. Burning, overgrazing and agricultural conversion threaten its highland grassland and moorland. It occurs in Mount Elgon, Mount Kenya and Aberdare National Parks; effective habitat protection and repeated population and distribution surveys are proposed.