Ahanta Spurfowl vs Erckel's Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis erckelii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Erckel's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis erckelii |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 1258.6666666666667 g (44.40 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Eats seeds, grain, invertebrates, and plant matter in Ethiopian highland scrub, farmland, and grassland. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 4-10 |
| 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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Very loud, deep 'KAK-kak-kak-KAAK' calls; largest spurfowl with powerful, resonant voice. E African highland species. Alarm is loud explosive cackle. Male calls carry 500+ m in forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Resident of rocky highland scrub, montane grassland, and Afroalpine habitat in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and adjacent Sudan, at 1,500–3,500 m.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Erckel'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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
Large spurfowl; dark brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; whitish below with dark brown streaking; chestnut crown distinctive; red facial skin; red-orange legs; no bare neck skin. Sexes similar; …
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.
Erckel's Spurfowl
One of the largest Phasianidae spurfowl (~1.26 kg), native to montane scrub and woodland in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and northern Somalia; introduced to Hawaii. Brown and white-streaked with a chestnut crown. Territorial; calls loudly at dawn. Feeds on seeds, bulbs, and invertebrates. Least Concern.