New Zealand Quail vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Coturnix novaezelandiae compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Quail | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coturnix novaezelandiae | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 174.66666666666666 g (6.16 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Fed on seeds and invertebrates in New Zealand grassland; extinct since late 19th century. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
New Zealand Quail only
Ahanta Spurfowl only
Song & Call Comparison
New Zealand Quail
Extinct since 1875; historical accounts describe a 'quail-like' whistled call from grassland. Likely similar to Common Quail 'wet-my-lips' but undocumented in detail. No recordings exist.
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
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; formerly endemic to New Zealand (North and South Islands); last confirmed record 1875; habitat loss drove extinction.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
New Zealand Quail
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
New Zealand Quail
Extinct; brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; male with rufous-buff underparts and dark brown streaking; white supercilium; darker crown. Female paler. Last recorded 1875; similar to Brown Quail.
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
New Zealand Quail
An extinct Phasianidae quail (~175 g) formerly endemic to open grasslands of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Last confirmed records date to 1875. Brown-streaked with rufous face markings. Extirpated by introduced predators, hunting, and habitat modification following European settlement. Now Extinct.
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.