Cheer Pheasant vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Catreus wallichii compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cheer Pheasant | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catreus wallichii | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 48.9 cm (19.3 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 1327.5 g (46.83 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Scratches for seeds, tubers, roots, and invertebrates on steep Himalayan hillsides; also takes berries and … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 9-14 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cheer Pheasant
Loud, far-carrying 'cheer-cheer-chirwa-chirwa' calls; responsible for common name. Himalayan species with ringing, slightly laughing quality to call. Alarm is a rapid harsh cackle from rocky slopes.
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
Cheer Pheasant
Endemic to rocky hillside scrub and grass-covered slopes in the western Himalayas, from Pakistan east through India to Nepal, at 1,200–3,000 m.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Cheer Pheasant
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Cheer Pheasant
Pale grey-brown overall with dense dark brown vermiculations; buff-white underparts streaked brown; long pale grey tail narrowly barred brown; red facial skin; grey crest. Sexes alike but female smaller.
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
Cheer Pheasant
A large Phasianidae pheasant (~1.33 kg) of grassy hillside scrub and forest margins in the western Himalayas. Both sexes are boldly barred grey-brown; the male has a long, finely barred tail. Diet encompasses grass shoots, roots, and invertebrates. Vulnerable from habitat loss and human disturbance.
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.