Pternistis bicalcaratus
The Double-spurred Spurfowl (Pternistis bicalcaratus) is a striking medium-sized gamebird, typically measuring 30-35 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly brownish-grey, intricately streaked and barred, with a distinctive grey head and a patch of reddish-brown facial skin around the eye. A key field mark, and the source of its common name, is the presence of prominent, sharp spurs on the male's legs, often two or even three per leg. Females are similar but slightly smaller, with less pro...
This spurfowl thrives in dense undergrowth, forest edges, scrublands, savannas, and cultivated areas, typically found in lowlands and foothills up to 1500 meters.
This omnivorous species feeds on a varied diet of insects, such as ants, termites, and beetles, alongside seeds, berries, fallen fruits, roots, and tubers.
Double-spurred Spurfowls are primarily diurnal, with peak activity at dawn and dusk. They forage by vigorously scratching the ground with their strong feet, searching for food in leaf litter and soft soil. These birds are generally shy and secretive, usually found in small coveys of 2-6 individua...
The Double-spurred Spurfowl is a resident species distributed across a wide belt of West and Central Africa. Its breeding and year-round range extends from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria...
Least Concern
- The 'Double-spurred' in their name comes from the males, which often possess two or even three sharp spurs on each leg, a remarkable adaptation for defense and territorial disputes. - Their loud, raucous, cackling call is a characteristic sound of the West African bush, often heard at dawn and ...