Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii (Smith, A, 1836)

597 gWeight

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia

Swainson's Spurfowl has been recorded at 151 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 9 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa832 records
  2. Marievale Bird SanctuarySouth Africa832 records
  3. Zaagkuildrift RdSouth Africa580 records
More places
  1. Kruger NP – Satara CampSouth Africa456 records
  2. Polokwane GRSouth Africa312 records
  3. Kruger NP – H7/Orpen-Satara RoadSouth Africa281 records
  4. Pilanesberg NPSouth Africa273 records
  5. Suikerbosrand NRSouth Africa254 records
  6. Nylsvley Nature ReserveSouth Africa241 records
  7. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa237 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaBotswanaZambiaZimbabweNamibiaEswatiniMalawiMozambique

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

Questions

How big is the Swainson's Spurfowl?

The Swainson's Spurfowl weighs around 597 g.

Where does the Swainson's Spurfowl live?

Its breeding range: Africa: southeastern Angola, northern Namibia and Zambia to eastern Botswana, northern South Africa, Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.

When is the best time to see the Swainson's Spurfowl?

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

Is the Swainson's Spurfowl endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Swainson's Spurfowl as Least Concern.

What does the Swainson's Spurfowl eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Swainson's Spurfowl in?

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

At a glance

Weight
597 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
186 mm
Tail
74 mm
Bill
31 mm
Tarsus
53 mm

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

Range

Africa: southeastern Angola, northern Namibia and Zambia to eastern Botswana, northern South Africa, Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique

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
Swainson's Spurfowl

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

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