Most of Africa, except desert and heavy forest regions. A small population of Helmeted Guinea fowl can be found in Morocco.
Scrubland, savanna
These birds have a wattle on each side of their beak and a horny "helmet" on top of their brightly colored head. They have a bead-like design on their feathers which consists of tiny white dots on a dark background.
These noisy birds usually live in large groups. In the wild there have been as many as 2,000 guinea fowl roosting together in a tree. They are capable of flight, but prefer to spend most of their time on the ground. In some places, like forests, they will roost in trees at night.
The large flocks break up into smaller groups during breeding season. Females incubate 12-15 eggs for 24-30 days.
Usually seen in large flocks, but walk through the bush in single file and imitate whatever the leader does. Helmeted guinea fowl are the original birds from which domestic guinea fowl were bred.
The Zoo has a flock of guinea fowl that roam the African Savanna.
Did YOU Know? | ||
These medium-sized birds are great runners. They can cover up to 20 miles in a day. | ||
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Class: | birds |
Order: | Galliformes |
Family: | Phasianidae |
Genus: | Numida |
Species: | meleagris mitrata |
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Length: | 20 in. |
Height: | 18 in. |
Weight: | 3 lbs. |
Average Lifespan: | 6 years |
Wild Diet: | Insects, seeds, berries, greens |
Predators: | Hawks, Owls, humans, and other carnivores |
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USFWS Status: |
Not Listed
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CITES Status: |
Not Listed
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Where at the Zoo? | Savanna |
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