Sclater's Monal vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Lophophorus sclateri compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sclater's Monal | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophophorus sclateri | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 59.0 cm (23.2 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 2402.0 g (84.73 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Digs for tubers, bulbs, and invertebrates in montane meadows of northeastern India and Myanmar. Forages … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Sclater's Monal
Loud, penetrating 'kee-yaa' cries from Yunnan-Myanmar alpine slopes; slightly more nasal than Himalayan Monal. Alarm is harsh repeated yelping; contact calls are softer clucking 'kok' notes.
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
Sclater's Monal
Resident in the mountains of northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh), northern Myanmar, and adjacent Tibet and Yunnan at 2,800-4,200 m.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Sclater's Monal
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Sclater's Monal
Male iridescent: green head with curly crest, dark blue-green upperparts, large white rump patch; tail rufous-chestnut; wings metallic bronze-green; bare blue facial skin. Female streaked brown with white rump.
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
Sclater's Monal
A large pheasant (~2.4 kg) of family Phasianidae, males iridescent blue-green and purple with a white rump patch; females brown. Inhabits montane forests and subalpine scrub in northeastern India, northern Myanmar, and southwestern China at 2,400–4,250 m. Forages for bulbs, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; occurs at high elevations in the eastern Himalayan region.
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.