Ahanta Spurfowl vs Koklass Pheasant
Pternistis ahantensis compared with Pucrasia macrolopha
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ahanta Spurfowl | Koklass Pheasant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pternistis ahantensis | Pucrasia macrolopha |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae | Phasianidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.6 cm (13.6 in) | 44.4 cm (17.5 in) |
| Weight | 547.5 g (19.31 oz) | 1153.75 g (40.70 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and plant matter in West African lowland forest and thicket. | Eats leaves, buds, berries, seeds, and invertebrates in Himalayan oak and coniferous forests. Forages on … |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 5-7 |
| 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.
Koklass Pheasant
Distinctive loud 'ko-KLAAAS' or 'kok-kok-KLAAS' call; responsible for common name. Ringing and far-carrying across Himalayan forests. Alarm is a harsh cackle; contact notes are soft clucks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ahanta Spurfowl
Resident of dense lowland and coastal forest in West Africa from Ghana to Cameroon; also found in Bioko Island.
Koklass Pheasant
Resident in the Himalayas and mountains of central Asia from Afghanistan east to central China at 1,700-4,000 m. Found in coniferous and mixed forest.
Conservation Status
Ahanta Spurfowl
Koklass Pheasant
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.
Koklass Pheasant
Male has dark green glossy head with long pointed ear-tufts; chestnut-brown body streaked cream; white neck patch; grey tail with chestnut and black barring. Female is mottled brown streaked buff-white.
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.
Koklass Pheasant
A medium-large pheasant (~1.2 kg) of family Phasianidae, males with a long dark crest and complex chestnut, black, and white patterning. Inhabits steep hillside forests and scrub in the Himalayas and mountains of Central and East Asia at 1,800–4,000 m. Feeds on seeds, berries, roots, and invertebrates. Least Concern; widely distributed across Himalayan and Chinese mountain forests.