Pternistis atrifrons was rediscovered around Mega in southern Ethiopia. The paper reports records from semi-open woodland in this area.
The male has a bare yellow patch behind the eye. The paper describes the female as browner and streaked, with a blue eye-ring and orange-red legs.
Black-fronted Spurfowl inhabit southern Ethiopian mountains, using a mixture of rocks, shrubs and semi-open herbaceous ground. Males may call from exposed positions such as rock tops.
A paper published in 2018 examined evidence gathered during 2012–2014. In June 2014 researchers travelled a 1,128-kilometre track through mountains between Yabello and Moyale and obtained evidence from 21 localities, including sightings, calls, droppings, feathers and local information.
Birds seen directly and their droppings occurred on or beside small to medium rocks surrounded by shrubs and semi-open ground. Distribution modelling also associated the species with cooler, moister mountain conditions than the surrounding savanna. Rocks, cover and open ground together characterised its habitat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The 2018 paper identified agricultural expansion, heavy grazing, wood removal and hunting as pressures. Its authors proposed extending the protected areas then being planned to include occupied mountains. Retaining the species’ rocky, shrubby mountain habitat is a central conservation concern.