Crested Francolin vs Ahanta Spurfowl
Ortygornis sephaena compared with Pternistis ahantensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Francolin | Ahanta Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ortygornis sephaena | Pternistis ahantensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) |
| Weight | 336.75 g (11.88 oz) | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; eats seeds, berries, invertebrates, and small animals in African savanna and dry scrub. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 3-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Crested Francolin
Loud, insistent 'beer-and-cognac' or 'krrrr-KI-KI' calls repeated incessantly at dawn; African savanna species. Alarm is rapid cackling when flushed. Often runs with cocked tail before taking flight.
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
Crested Francolin
Resident of dry acacia scrub, woodland, and savanna from Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa and west to Senegal.
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Conservation Status
Crested Francolin
Ahanta Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Francolin
Dark brown above with buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; dark brown cap with slight crest often held raised; white supercilium; rufous tail; red legs. Sexes …
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
Crested Francolin
A small Phasianidae francolin (~337 g) of thornbush, riverine thickets, and dry woodland across sub-Saharan East and southern Africa. Named for the male's distinctive raised crest. Loud, repetitive calls at dusk are characteristic. Feeds on seeds, tubers, and invertebrates. Common in suitable scrubby habitat; Least Concern.
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.