Photo: Mirko Raner / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Erckel’s Spurfowl
Pternistis erckelii
Erckel's Spurfowl (Pternistis erckelii) — Gamebirds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Erckel’s Spurfowl (Pternistis erckelii) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. 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 erckelii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Erckel’s Spurfowl feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Erckel’s Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Erckel’s Spurfowl (Pternistis erckelii) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family, part of the order Galliformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne Sudan, Eritrea to c Ethiopia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 21 cm and a tail of around 10.6 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 146,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Erckel’s Spurfowl?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Erckel’s Spurfowl live?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne Sudan, Eritrea to c Ethiopia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Erckel’s Spurfowl belong to?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl (Pternistis erckelii) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Erckel’s Spurfowl eat?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Erckel’s Spurfowl migrate?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Erckel’s 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 Erckel’s Spurfowl make?
1 real field recording of the Erckel’s Spurfowl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Erckel’s Spurfowl's range?
The Erckel’s Spurfowl has a mapped global range of about 146,000 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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