Ahanta Spurfowl vs Grey-striped Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis griseostriatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Grey-striped Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis griseostriatus |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 30.3 cm (11.9 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 314.5 g (11.09 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Forages for seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Angolan forest and savanna. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | -- |
| 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.
Grey-striped Spurfowl
Sharp, rasping 'krek-KRAK' calls from Angola forest; smaller spurfowl with higher voice. Alarm is rapid cackle. Poorly known relative to widespread congeners. Pairs call at dawn 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.
Grey-striped Spurfowl
Resident of coastal lowland forest and thicket in Angola and western DR Congo; restricted to the Atlantic coast belt.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Grey-striped 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.
Grey-striped Spurfowl
Grey-brown above with distinctive grey and white shaft streaking; pale buff underparts with grey-brown lateral streaking giving greyish tonal quality; red bill; yellowish legs; red orbital skin. Angola endemic.
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.
Grey-striped Spurfowl
A small Phasianidae spurfowl (~315 g) of dense forest understorey and gallery forest in western Angola and adjacent DRC. Finely grey-streaked plumage is distinctive among spurfowls. Shy and little studied; forages on seeds and invertebrates. Least Concern; restricted range but habitat relatively intact.