Snow Mountain Quail vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Anurophasis monorthonyx compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Snow Mountain Quail | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anurophasis monorthonyx | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.4 cm (11.6 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 401.0 g (14.14 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Poorly known; presumed to eat seeds and invertebrates in New Guinea alpine grassland above 3,000 … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Snow Mountain Quail
Infrequently recorded; believed to give loud, far-carrying whistled calls from New Guinea alpine grassland. Poorly known vocally. Alarm presumed to be sharp 'kek' notes; rarely documented in field.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Loud, staccato 'krak-krak-KRAAK' from W African forest edge; slightly higher than larger spurfowl. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling. Pairs call in loose synchrony at dawn in secondary growth.
Geographic Range & Migration
Snow Mountain Quail
Endemic to the Snow Mountains (Pegunungan Maoke) of central New Guinea (Papua, Indonesia) above 3,100 m; poorly known.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Snow Mountain Quail
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Snow Mountain Quail
Large quail; brown above with black and buff streaking; white below with bold black streaks; white supercilium; chestnut-streaked flanks; red bill and legs. Sexes similar; high-altitude New Guinea endemic.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Dark brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; whitish below with dark brown streaking; red bill; red orbital skin; yellow legs. Sexes similar; closely resembles Double-spurred Spurfowl; West African forests.
About These Birds
Snow Mountain Quail
A large, robust Phasianidae quail (~401 g) restricted to subalpine and alpine grasslands of the Snow Mountains (Pegunungan Maoke) in West Papua. One of New Guinea's high-altitude endemics. Forages on the ground for grass seeds and invertebrates. Remote habitat affords some protection. Least Concern.
Ahanta Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~548 g) of lowland and secondary forest edges in West Africa from Ivory Coast to Nigeria. Dark brown streaked white; red orbital skin. Forages on the ground in pairs or small groups for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Tolerates forest fragments; Least Concern.