Occurs in three discrete areas in western Africa: western Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and northern Guinea; southern Guinea, Sierra Leone and western Liberia; and north-eastern Ivory Coast east to south-western Nigeria.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Ahanta Spurfowl (Pternistis ahantensis) [XC339661]
by Patrik \u00c5berg from For\u00eat de Diemb\u00e9ring, Oussouye, Casamance, Senegal (song)
Ahanta Spurfowl (Pternistis ahantensis) [XC411792]
by Peter Boesman from Parc National de la For\u00eat de Ta\u00ef, Ivory Coast (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Scaly Francolin (Pternistis squamatus) and Grey-striped Francolin (Pternistis griseostriatus) and all three have been separated in genus Squamatocolinus. Recently proposed reorganization of Francolinus places present species in genus Pternistis with 23 other species. Western populations have been awarded separate subspecies, hopkinsoni, but variation is clinal and subspecific status not warranted.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
hopkinsoni (Bannerman, 1934) - Western Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
ahantensis (Temminck, 1854) - Discontinuous in lowlands of Senegambia to south-western Nigeria.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet