Bird Guide

Helmeted Guineafowl vs Vulturine Guineafowl

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Large1.3 kgWoodland

The helmeted guinea fowl is a large, 53 to 58 cm (21 to 23 in) bird with a round body and small head. They weigh about 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). The body plumage is gray-black speckled with white. Like other guinea fowl, this species has an unfeathered head, which in this species is decorated with a dull yellow or reddish bony knob, and bare skin with red, blue, or black hues. The wings are short and rounded, and the tail is likewise short. Various subspecies are proposed, differences in appearance being mostly a large variation in shape, size, and colour of the casque and facial wattles.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Helmeted Guineafowl
Recorded by Kileo Jumah · Alarm call · Ngorongoro Conservation Area (crater floor), Arusha, Tanzania · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0
Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

Large1.3 kgShrubland

The vulturine guinea fowl is a large (61–71 centimetres (24–28 in)) bird with a round body and small head. It's average weight is between 1kg to 1.6kg and it has longer wings, neck, legs and tail than other guinea fowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guinea fowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long bare neck and head. The slim neck projects from a cape of long, glossy, blue and white hackles. The breast is cobalt blue, and the rest of the body plumage is black, finely spangled with white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Nikhil R R · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Helmeted Guineafowl and Vulturine Guineafowl.