Bornean Crestless Fireback vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Lophura pyronota compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bornean Crestless Fireback | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophura pyronota | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.2 cm (17.4 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 934.0 g (32.95 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on fallen fruits, seeds, invertebrates, and small animals; forages on Bornean lowland forest floor. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3-6 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Bornean Crestless Fireback
Harsh, explosive 'kak-kak-KAAK' alarm calls from lowland Bornean forest; poorly documented. Rarely heard except when flushed. Contact calls thought to be soft guttural clucks between pairs.
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
Bornean Crestless Fireback
Endemic to Borneo; resident of lowland and hill forest in Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan below 1,000 m.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Bornean Crestless Fireback
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Bornean Crestless Fireback
Male deep blue-black with rufous-cinnamon lower back and rump; no crest; red orbital skin; shorter tail than Malay congener. Female dark brown with white shaft streaks; rufous tinge on lower …
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
Bornean Crestless Fireback
A Bornean-endemic Phasianidae pheasant (~934 g) of hill and montane forests. Males have blue-black plumage and red orbital skin without a crest, distinguishing it from the closely related Malay species. Diet includes seeds, fruits, and ground invertebrates. Endangered owing to ongoing deforestation in Borneo.
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.