Photo: Allan Drewitt / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Game Birds

Chestnut-naped Spurfowl

Pternistis castaneicollis

Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (Pternistis castaneicollis) — Gamebirds of Africa.

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Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

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The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (Pternistis castaneicollis) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 792 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Pheasants & Allies
Genus Pternistis
Species castaneicollis

Where it lives

Montane south to northeastern Ethiopia and northwestern Somalia

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 792 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Phasianidae
Order: Galliformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (Pternistis castaneicollis) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family, part of the order Galliformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane s to ne Ethiopia and nw Somalia.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 792 g, with a wing length of about 19.6 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 265,000 km².

Songs & calls

Chestnut-naped Spurfowl — Song

Recorded by Hans Matheve Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Chestnut-naped Spurfowl?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is a large bird that weighs around 792 g.

Where does the Chestnut-naped Spurfowl live?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane s to ne Ethiopia and nw Somalia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Chestnut-naped Spurfowl belong to?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl (Pternistis castaneicollis) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the Chestnut-naped Spurfowl eat?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Chestnut-naped Spurfowl migrate?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Chestnut-naped 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 Chestnut-naped Spurfowl make?

1 real field recording of the Chestnut-naped 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 Chestnut-naped Spurfowl's range?

The Chestnut-naped Spurfowl has a mapped global range of about 265,000 km².