Double-spurred Spurfowl (Pternistis bicalcaratus)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Double-spurred Spurfowl

Pternistis bicalcaratus (Linnaeus, 1766)

30–34 cmLength440 gWeight

The double-spurred spurfowl (Pternistis bicalcaratus) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria

Double-spurred Spurfowl has been recorded at 103 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 15 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Amurum Forest ReserveNigeria349 records
  2. Shai Hills Resource ReserveGhana341 records
  3. Parc Urbain Bangr-WeoogoBurkina Faso270 records
More places
  1. Mole NPGhana254 records
  2. Campement de WassadouSenegal215 records
  3. Réserve Royale de Chasse de Ain SferjlaMorocco207 records
  4. Mole NP – Samole Loop & waterholeGhana200 records
  5. Brenu Beach – grasslandsGhana189 records
  6. Mole NP – Mole Hotel & waterholeGhana183 records
  7. Shai Hills RR – Kandra RouteGhana162 records

Countries and regions with the most records

GhanaGambiaNigeriaSenegalBurkina FasoMoroccoCameroonBenin

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The double-spurred spurfowl (Pternistis bicalcaratus) 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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Double-spurred Spurfowl?

The Double-spurred Spurfowl is about 30–34 cm long and weighs around 440 g.

Where does the Double-spurred Spurfowl live?

Its breeding range: Africa: western, central. It is most often recorded in Ghana, Gambia and Nigeria.

When is the best time to see the Double-spurred Spurfowl?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Double-spurred Spurfowl endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Double-spurred Spurfowl as Least Concern.

What does the Double-spurred Spurfowl eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Double-spurred Spurfowl in?

It belongs to the family Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae), order Galliformes.

At a glance

Length
30–34 cm
Weight
440 g
Habitat
Woodland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
170 mm
Tail
62 mm
Bill
32 mm
Tarsus
53 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: western, central

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Pheasants & Allies Phasianidae
Genus
Pternistis

Other birds in the genus Pternistis

Hartlaub's SpurfowlHartlaub's SpurfowlPternistis hartlaubiMount Cameroon SpurfowlMount Cameroon SpurfowlPternistis camerunensisHandsome SpurfowlHandsome SpurfowlPternistis nobilisChestnut-naped SpurfowlChestnut-naped SpurfowlPternistis castaneicollisErckel's SpurfowlErckel's SpurfowlPternistis erckeliiDjibouti SpurfowlDjibouti SpurfowlPternistis ochropectusSwierstra's SpurfowlSwierstra's SpurfowlPternistis swierstraiAhanta SpurfowlAhanta SpurfowlPternistis ahantensisGrey-striped SpurfowlGrey-striped SpurfowlPternistis griseostriatusJackson's SpurfowlJackson's SpurfowlPternistis jacksoniRed-billed SpurfowlRed-billed SpurfowlPternistis adspersusCape SpurfowlCape SpurfowlPternistis capensis
Double-spurred Spurfowl

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Nik Borrow. ↗

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