Range:

Habitat:

Scrubland, savanna

Characteristics:

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.

Behavior:

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.

Reproduction:

The large flocks break up into smaller groups during breeding season. Females incubate 12-15 eggs for 24-30 days.

Interesting Facts:

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.

About Our Animals:

The Zoo has a flock of guinea fowl that roam the African Savanna.