White-cheeked Partridge vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Arborophila atrogularis compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-cheeked Partridge | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Arborophila atrogularis | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.8 cm (10.2 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 256.0 g (9.03 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of northeastern Indian and Myanmarese hill forests. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-cheeked Partridge
Ringing 'kwee-oo-kwee' trio of whistled notes; second note lower, third rising again. Calls from NE Indian and Myanmar hillside forest. Alarm is a sharp staccato cluck series.
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
White-cheeked Partridge
Resident in the foothills of northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar at 100-1,500 m. Found in dense lowland and foothill forest.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
White-cheeked Partridge
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
White-cheeked Partridge
Brown above; cheeks white contrasting with black throat and lores; grey breast; flanks grey-brown streaked white; bare reddish eye-ring; white cheeks against black throat create distinctive facial pattern.
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
White-cheeked Partridge
A medium-sized partridge (~255 g) of family Phasianidae, with white cheeks contrasting against a black throat. Inhabits subtropical and lower montane forests in northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Forages secretively on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates in dense bamboo and undergrowth. Least Concern; widespread in the eastern Himalayan foothills and Assam region.
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.