Sri Lanka Junglefowl vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Gallus lafayettii compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sri Lanka Junglefowl | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallus lafayettii | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 766.25 g (27.03 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and plant material in Sri Lankan forest; scratches leaf litter. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Distinctive crow heard as 'Joyce-Joycee'; male repeats from low perch at forest edge on Sri Lanka. Alarm is rapid cackling with wing clatter. Contact calls between birds are lower clucking.
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
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Endemic to Sri Lanka; resident of forest, secondary scrub, and jungle from lowlands to montane areas; national bird of Sri Lanka.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
Male rich orange and red with dark green-black tail; purple gloss on wing coverts; yellow-centered red comb. Female dark brown with pale shaft streaks and buff scaling below; endemic to …
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
Sri Lanka Junglefowl
The national bird of Sri Lanka, this Phasianidae junglefowl (~766 g) inhabits rainforest, scrub, and plantation edges throughout the island. Males bear a vivid yellow-centred red comb and rich orange-red plumage. Omnivorous; forages on forest floor for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; endemic.
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.