Willow Grouse vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Lagopus lagopus compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Willow Grouse | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lagopus lagopus | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 595.4166666666666 g (21.00 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Eats willow and birch buds, catkins, and shoots in winter; berries, seeds, flowers, and insects … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3-14 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Willow Grouse
Loud, laughing 'kow-kow-kow-karrr' cackle from males on tundra; raucous and carrying. Alarm is a sharp repetitive 'kek'. Female gives low clucks near nest; male produces barking territorial call.
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
Willow Grouse
Circumpolar breeder in Arctic and boreal tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters south to temperate grasslands and shrubland.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Willow Grouse
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Willow Grouse
Winter: entirely white except black tail; summer male: rufous-chestnut head and breast, white belly and wings; red eye-comb; feathered white feet year-round. Seasonal plumage change is pronounced.
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
Willow Grouse
A medium-sized grouse (~595 g) of family Phasianidae, turning all-white in winter except for black tail feathers. Inhabits boreal forests, tundra, and moorlands across the circumpolar north in Eurasia and North America. Feeds on willow and birch buds, catkins, berries, and leaves. Least Concern; circumpolar distribution makes it one of the world's most abundant and widespread grouse species.
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.