Photo: Jean-Paul Boerekamps / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellow-necked Spurfowl
Pternistis leucoscepus
Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) — Gamebirds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 641 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
- Genus Pternistis
- Species leucoscepus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 641 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Eritrea and e South Sudan to Somalia, Kenya and ne Tanzania.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 641 g, with a wing length of about 19.9 cm and a tail of around 8.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-necked Spurfowl?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is a large bird that weighs around 641 g.
Where does the Yellow-necked Spurfowl live?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Eritrea and e South Sudan to Somalia, Kenya and ne Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Yellow-necked Spurfowl belong to?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Yellow-necked Spurfowl eat?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Yellow-necked Spurfowl migrate?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Yellow-necked Spurfowl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Yellow-necked Spurfowl make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-necked Spurfowl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Yellow-necked Spurfowl's range?
The Yellow-necked Spurfowl has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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