Ahanta Spurfowl vs Udzungwa Forest-partridge
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Xenoperdix udzungwensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Udzungwa Forest-partridge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Xenoperdix udzungwensis |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 28.8 cm (11.3 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 207.25 g (7.31 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Forages on floor of Udzungwa Tanzanian montane forest for seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits. Critically … |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 3 |
| 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.
Udzungwa Forest-partridge
Loud, clear whistled 'wheee-oo' calls from montane forest floor; haunting and infrequently heard. Alarm is a sharp explosive 'kek'; poorly known due to rarity in Udzungwa Mountains.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Udzungwa Forest-partridge
Endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Found in montane forest at 1,000-2,000 m. Very poorly known; only two specimens collected.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Udzungwa Forest-partridge
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.
Udzungwa Forest-partridge
Brown above with fine black streaking and white shaft-streaks; red legs and bill; underparts paler buff-brown with dark-edged feathers creating scaled pattern; bare red facial skin around eye.
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.
Udzungwa Forest-partridge
A small partridge (~205 g) of family Phasianidae, with brown-streaked plumage and red legs. Endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, restricted to Udzungwa and Rubeho mountain forests above 1,300 m. Forages on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Endangered; one of Africa's rarest birds, confined to a tiny forest area threatened by agricultural encroachment and logging.