The males are beautifully marked, mostly black but with a white patch behind the eye and further white markings on the mantle and flanks. The females are much browner with black patterning in the upperparts and especially on the flanks. The bird mostly lives in swampy areas.

Locally called Kala Teetar, it inhabits in areas of lowland scrub including river deltas, sand dunes and riverbeds. It is also the state bird of Haryana.

Black Francolin can be seen in the Bir Shikargarh Sanctuary, Haryana.