Swinhoe's Pheasant vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Lophura swinhoii compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Swinhoe's Pheasant | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophura swinhoii | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 47.6 cm (18.7 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals on Taiwan mountain forest floors. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Swinhoe's Pheasant
Sharp, metallic 'kak-KAK' crows from Taiwan mountain forest; emphatic and carrying. Alarm is a rapid harsh cackling. Wing-drumming display audible at dawn. Contact calls are soft low clucks.
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
Swinhoe's Pheasant
Endemic to Taiwan; resident of dense broadleaf and mixed montane forest between 300 and 2,300 m elevation.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Swinhoe's Pheasant
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Swinhoe's Pheasant
Male dark iridescent blue with white crest; white central tail feathers contrasting with dark body; white scapular patch; red facial wattle. Female reddish-brown with white shaft streaks and black scaling.
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
Swinhoe's Pheasant
A beautiful Phasianidae pheasant (~1.1 kg) endemic to broadleaved evergreen forests of Taiwan's central mountains. Males are deep blue with a white back patch and crimson facial skin. Feeds on fallen fruits, seeds, and invertebrates on the forest floor. Near Threatened from habitat fragmentation.
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.