Photo: Henggang Cui / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-necked Spurfowl
Pternistis afer
Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer) — Gamebirds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer) is a member of the Phasianidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 455 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 afer
Quick facts
- Weight
- 455 g
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-necked 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 Red-necked Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer) belongs to the Phasianidae family of the order Galliformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, e, se.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 455 g, with a wing length of about 17 cm and a tail of around 6.9 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 4.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-necked Spurfowl?
The Red-necked Spurfowl is a large bird that weighs around 455 g.
Where does the Red-necked Spurfowl live?
The Red-necked Spurfowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, e, se, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red-necked Spurfowl belong to?
The Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer) belongs to the Phasianidae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Red-necked Spurfowl eat?
The Red-necked Spurfowl feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Red-necked Spurfowl migrate?
The Red-necked Spurfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-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 Red-necked Spurfowl make?
1 real field recording of the Red-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 Red-necked Spurfowl's range?
The Red-necked Spurfowl has a mapped global range of about 4.6 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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