Red-billed Partridge vs Ahanta Spurfowl

Arborophila rubrirostris compared with Pternistis ahantensis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Red-billed Partridge Ahanta Spurfowl
Scientific Name Arborophila rubrirostris Pternistis ahantensis
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 26.2 cm (10.3 in) 34.6 cm (13.6 in)
Weight 226.0 g (7.97 oz) 547.5 g (19.31 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Bornean montane forests. Little-studied; diet inferred … Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket.
Clutch Size -- 3-12
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Red-billed Partridge only

None

Ahanta Spurfowl only

Song & Call Comparison

Red-billed Partridge

Song

Clear, high-pitched 'wheee-oop' whistle; slurred downward at end. Borneo endemic calling from montane understorey. Contact calls soft low clucks; alarm a sharp explosive 'pit' note.

Ahanta Spurfowl

Song

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

Red-billed Partridge

Resident in the montane forests of Sumatra and Borneo at 600-2,000 m. Found in primary hill and montane forest.

Ahanta Spurfowl

Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Red-billed Partridge

Least Concern

Ahanta Spurfowl

How to Tell Them Apart

Red-billed Partridge

Plumage

Brown above streaked darker; throat and face white with fine dark scaling; breast grey; flanks grey with white streaks; distinctive bright red bill and red eye-ring; no rufous breast patches.

Ahanta Spurfowl

Plumage

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

Red-billed Partridge

A small partridge (~225 g) of family Phasianidae, distinguished by its bright red bill on dark plumage. Endemic to montane forests of Sumatra at 700–2,000 m elevation. Inhabits the forest floor and dense undergrowth of subtropical highland forest. Forages for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; restricted to Sumatran mountains but currently stable with sufficient forest cover remaining.

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.

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