Ahanta Spurfowl vs Asian Blue Quail
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Synoicus chinensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Asian Blue Quail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Synoicus chinensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Eats small seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in grassland and open scrub of Asia and … |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Ahanta Spurfowl only
Asian Blue Quail only
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.
Asian Blue Quail
Very high-pitched, thin 'wee-wee-wee' whistle; tiny quail with soft, subtle voice. Contact calls in covey are quiet, rolling clucks. Alarm is a sharp 'pip'. Often only detected by very thin …
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Asian Blue Quail
Resident and nomadic across South and Southeast Asia from India to the Philippines, and south to Australia; inhabits grassland and crops.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Asian Blue Quail
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.
Asian Blue Quail
Male blue-grey with chestnut-brown sides; white and black patterned throat and face; chestnut flanks. Female brown with buff streaking throughout; lacks blue-grey of male; one of world's smallest quails.
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.
Asian Blue Quail
The world's smallest gamebird (~38 g), family Phasianidae, inhabiting tall grasses and paddy edges across South and Southeast Asia to Australia. Males have sky-blue face and throat with a black-and-white necklace. Feeds on tiny seeds and small invertebrates. Remarkably inconspicuous despite its tiny size. Least Concern.