Ahanta Spurfowl vs Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis hartlaubi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Hartlaub's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis hartlaubi |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 28.9 cm (11.4 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 246.25 g (8.69 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Forages for seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small animals in rocky Angolan hillside scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 4-8 |
| 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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Loud, harsh 'krak-krak-KRAAK' calls from NW African rocky bush; slightly nasal quality. Alarm is rapid explosive cackling when flushed. Pairs call in duet at dawn on rocky escarpments.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Resident of rocky hillsides with scrub and open woodland in southwestern Angola; restricted range.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Hartlaub'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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
Dark brown above with pale buff shaft streaks; white below with dense dark brown streaking; orange-red facial skin; yellow legs; no bare neck skin. Sexes similar; smaller than most spurfowl; …
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.
Hartlaub's Spurfowl
A small Phasianidae spurfowl (~246 g) of rocky hillside scrub and boulder-strewn savanna in Angola and Namibia. Plumage is intricately streaked and spotted brown-and-white. Pairs and family groups forage on the ground for seeds, roots, and invertebrates. Locally common in arid rocky terrain; Least Concern.