Himalayan Monal vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Lophophorus impejanus compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Himalayan Monal | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophophorus impejanus | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 57.2 cm (22.5 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 2077.5 g (73.28 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Digs with strong bill for tubers, bulbs, roots, and invertebrates in Himalayan alpine meadows and … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Himalayan Monal
Loud, clear 'kyaa-kyaa-kyaa' calls echoing across Himalayan rocky slopes; slightly sad and ringing. Alarm is a rapid series of shrill yelps. Male calls from exposed ridgeline 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
Himalayan Monal
Resident in the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Yunnan at 2,100-4,500 m. Found in forest and alpine meadow. National bird of Nepal.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Himalayan Monal
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Himalayan Monal
Male iridescent throughout: metallic green head, copper-green back, purple wings, and teal-blue rump; white back patch; chestnut tail; spoon-tipped crest. Female brown with white throat and striped upperparts.
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
Himalayan Monal
A large pheasant (~2.1 kg) of family Phasianidae; the national bird of Nepal. Males display iridescent multicolored plumage with copper, green, purple, and white; females are cryptically brown. Inhabits montane forests and alpine meadows in the Himalayas at 2,100–4,500 m. Forages for bulbs, tubers, and insects by digging with the sturdy bill. Least Concern; common in Himalayan protected areas.
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.