Himalayan Quail vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Ophrysia superciliosa compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Himalayan Quail | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ophrysia superciliosa | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 17.6 cm (6.9 in) | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 189.7 g (6.69 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Presumed to feed on seeds and invertebrates in Himalayan montane scrub; critically endangered, diet poorly … | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | -- | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Himalayan Quail
Almost certainly extinct; last recorded 1876. Historical accounts describe 'plaintive whistled calls' from Himalayan hill grass. No recordings exist. Likely soft high whistle like other hill quail.
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 Quail
Known only from 19th-century specimens from Uttarakhand, India (Mussoorie and Nainital); possibly extinct with no confirmed records since 1876.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Himalayan Quail
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Himalayan Quail
Male dark grey with white spots and streaks; bold white supercilium; red bill. Female pale brownish-buff with dark brown streaking; pale supercilium. Last confirmed 1876; presumed possibly extinct; Uttarakhand hills.
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 Quail
One of the world's most elusive birds, this Phasianidae quail (~190 g) is last confirmed from the western Himalayas in 1876 and may be extinct. A medium-sized quail of steep grassy hill slopes with a distinctive red bill. Presumed to feed on grass seeds. Critically Endangered; possibly extinct.
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.