Madagascar Partridge vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Margaroperdix madagarensis compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Madagascar Partridge | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Margaroperdix madagarensis | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.2 cm (9.5 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 235.0 g (8.29 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Madagascar's grassland, scrub, and forest edges. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 8-20 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Madagascar Partridge
Loud, musical 'qui-QUI-qui' calls from Madagascar highland grassland; melodic and slightly liquid. Alarm is a rapid cackle when flushed. Contact calls between pairs are soft guttural 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
Madagascar Partridge
Endemic to Madagascar; resident of open grassland, scrub, and cultivated areas from lowlands to 2,000 m.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Madagascar Partridge
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Madagascar Partridge
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; male has rufous head with dark brown cap; white throat; pale buff underparts with dark chestnut barring on flanks. Female plain brown with fine …
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
Madagascar Partridge
A small Phasianidae partridge (~235 g) endemic to grassland and open scrub across the central highlands and western regions of Madagascar. Brown with intricate streaking; males have rufous face markings. Forages on the ground for seeds and invertebrates. Adapts to degraded habitats; Least Concern on Madagascar.
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.