Ahanta Spurfowl vs Harwood's Spurfowl
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pternistis harwoodi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Harwood's Spurfowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pternistis harwoodi |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 35.0 cm (13.8 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 495.5 g (17.48 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant material in Ethiopian highland gorge scrub; poorly known. |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 3-10 |
| 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.
Harwood's Spurfowl
Raucous cackling duet; sharp, scratchy 'kwek-kwek' repeated in rapid series; uncommon call rarely documented; contact notes low and clucking
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Harwood's Spurfowl
Highly restricted to the Blue Nile gorge and surrounding highlands in Amhara region, Ethiopia; one of Africa's rarest spurfowl.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Harwood'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.
Harwood's Spurfowl
Brown above with buff shaft streaks; white below with dark brown streaking; red bill; bare red throat; red facial skin; red legs. Very similar to Clapperton's Spurfowl; restricted to Blue …
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.
Harwood's Spurfowl
A medium Phasianidae spurfowl (~496 g) endemic to the Blue Nile gorge in central Ethiopia, with a highly restricted range. Found in rocky ravines with scrubby vegetation. Brown-streaked plumage; red facial skin. Feeds on seeds and invertebrates. Near Threatened from agricultural encroachment into its narrow gorge habitat.