Black Francolin vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Francolinus francolinus compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Francolin | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Francolinus francolinus | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.2 cm (13.5 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 389.5 g (13.74 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, grain, green shoots, invertebrates, and berries in farmland and scrubby habitats. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 5-18 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black Francolin
Loud, grating 'chee-keek-kee-keek' calls; Middle Eastern and South Asian species. Slightly musical with emphatic quality. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling. Males call from elevated perch at dawn.
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
Black Francolin
Resident of farmland, scrub, and grassland from Cyprus and Turkey through the Middle East and South Asia to Myanmar and India.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Black Francolin
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Black Francolin
Male predominantly black with white cheek patch; chestnut collar; white-spotted flanks; rufous nape; red legs. Female dark brown with pale scaling; chestnut nape and crown; male pattern replaced by cryptic …
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
Black Francolin
A medium-sized Phasianidae francolin (~390 g) of tall grass, cultivated fields, and scrub from the Mediterranean to South Asia. Males are striking: black body with white cheek patches and chestnut neck. Territorial males call persistently at dawn. Diet includes seeds, grass shoots, and invertebrates. 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.