Double-spurred Spurfowl
Pternistis bicalcaratus
The Double-spurred Spurfowl (Pternistis bicalcaratus) is a rare partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 17 countries, weighing about 440 g. The double-spurred spurfowl is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
About the Double-spurred Spurfowl
The double-spurred spurfowl is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. Like most spurfowls, it is restricted to Africa. It is a resident breeder in tropical West Africa, but there is a small and declining isolated population in Morocco.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The double-spurred spurfowl is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) in length. The male is mainly brown, sparingly streaked and spotted darker and cream above, chest and flank feathers are dark brown edged and centrally spotted cream. The face is pale cream finely flecked with dark brown, and the head features a chestnut crown and white supercilium. It has a chestnut neck collar, white cheek patches and brown wings. The male usually has two spurs on each leg, the upper one being blunt. The legs are dull green.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mauritania.
When to see it
The Double-spurred Spurfowl can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Double-spurred Spurfowl?
- The double-spurred spurfowl is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Double-spurred Spurfowl?
- The Double-spurred Spurfowl is a large sized bird weighing about 440 g.
- Where can you see a Double-spurred Spurfowl?
- The Double-spurred Spurfowl occurs in 17 countries, including Nigeria, the Gambia, Ghana, Senegal and Benin.
- What birds look similar to a Double-spurred Spurfowl?
- The Double-spurred Spurfowl is most easily confused with the Yellow-necked Spurfowl, the Erckel's Spurfowl and the Red-billed Spurfowl.
- Is the Double-spurred Spurfowl endangered?
- The Double-spurred Spurfowl is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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