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Birds

Guinea Fowl

Guinea fowl move in small flocks around the grounds.

Taxonomy

Class

Aves

Order

Galliformes

Family

Numididae

Scientific Name

Numida meleagris

About

The guinea fowl is a small, spotted ground bird known for its distinctive helmeted head and its loud, ever-watchful alarm calls.

A Helmeted Look

The helmeted guineafowl is easy to pick out from other farm birds thanks to the bony, helmet-like casque on top of its head and its dark, white-speckled feathers. Bare, brightly colored skin on the face and neck adds to its distinctive appearance among poultry.

Diet and Daily Life

Guinea fowl are active foragers that spend much of the day walking and pecking through grass and undergrowth for seeds, insects, and small invertebrates. Because insects make up a good share of their diet, guinea fowl are often valued around farms for the natural pest control they provide.

Social and Family Life

Guinea fowl move and roost in tight flocks and are famously alert, sounding a loud, repetitive alarm call the moment something unfamiliar approaches. That same watchfulness is why they are sometimes kept alongside other farm animals as a kind of natural early-warning system.