Ahanta Spurfowl vs Clapperton's Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis clappertoni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Clapperton's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis clappertoni |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 35.3 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 471.0 g (16.61 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African savanna, farmland, and dry scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Ahanta Spurfowl only
Clapperton's Spurfowl 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.
Clapperton's Spurfowl
Grating, repetitive crowing; harsh 'krrr-krrr' phrases delivered in excited bursts; dawn chorus calls audible over long distances in dry woodland
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Clapperton's Spurfowl
Resident of open savanna, woodland, and farmland from Senegal east across the Sahel to Sudan and northern Cameroon.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Clapperton'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.
Clapperton's Spurfowl
Brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; whitish below with dark brown streaking; red bill; bare red throat patch diagnostic among West African spurfowl; red legs; red facial skin. Sexes …
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.
Clapperton's Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~471 g) of open savanna, cultivation edges, and dry woodland in the Sahel and adjacent sub-Saharan zones from Mali to Sudan. Streaked brown-and-white; red-based bill. Common in degraded and farmed landscapes. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern.