Ahanta Spurfowl vs Heuglin's Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis icterorhynchus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Heuglin's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis icterorhynchus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 33.6 cm (13.2 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 493.5 g (17.41 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Omnivorous; feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Sahelian savanna and dry woodland. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 6-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Boisterous crowing duet of harsh, staccato notes; 'wak-wak-wak' accelerating into a cackling climax; territorial calls carry far in savanna
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Resident of open woodland, savanna, and grassland from southern Sudan and South Sudan east to Ethiopia and west to Senegal.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Heuglin's Spurfowl
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; distinctive yellow-orange bill distinguishing it from red-billed spurfowl; yellow legs; red orbital skin. Sexes similar; Central …
About These Birds
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.
Heuglin's Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~494 g) of tall grass, woodland, and savanna margins in South Sudan, northern DRC, Uganda, and adjacent countries. Brown-streaked plumage; yellow bill is distinctive. Pairs or groups forage on seeds and invertebrates. Calls loudly at dawn; often near wetlands. Least Concern.