Stubble Quail vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Coturnix pectoralis compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Stubble Quail | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coturnix pectoralis | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 20.0 cm (7.9 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 100.5 g (3.55 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grass seeds, grain, and invertebrates in Australian cropland and native grassland. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 5-14 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Stubble Quail
Distinctive 'two-to-WHIT' three-note call; slightly higher-pitched and more ringing than Common Quail. Australian croplands species calling from stubble fields. Alarm a soft 'pip'.
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
Stubble Quail
Resident of dry grassland, stubble, and open farmland across southern and eastern Australia; nomadic, following rainfall.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Stubble Quail
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Stubble Quail
Brown and buff streaked upperparts; pale buff underparts with bold dark brown streaking; male with orange-buff face and rufous throat; dark anchor marks on flanks. Female plainer; buff throughout with …
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
Stubble Quail
A medium-small Phasianidae quail (~101 g) of cereal stubble, grassland, and heath across southern and eastern Australia. Brown-streaked; males have an orange face and rusty-streaked breast. Nomadic; exploits ephemeral seed crops. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Significant gamebird in Australia; 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.