The species has barred underparts (in contrast to the related Natal spurfowl) and a conspicuous yellow eye-ring.

[2] The red-billed spurfowl was described in 1838 by the English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse from specimens collected by James Edward Alexander on his expedition to Namaqualand and Damaraland.

Waterhouse coined the binomial name Francolinus adspersus and noted that the specimens had come near the Fish River in what is now Namibia.

[4] The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832.

[5][6] The red-billed spurfowl is considered as monotypic: the proposed subspecies mesicus is not recognised.