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A large-bodied, small-headed, slaty-gray gamebird perfectly lined with rows of hundreds of white spots.
At a glance
Sounds
Range map
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
The distinctive head sports a strange bone-like casque and naked warty facial skin, which is colored white, blue, or red depending on geographic location. Young birds are brown and are almost always found with adults. Guineafowl often behave like lunatics, charging around issuing a loud and distinctive “kek-kek-kek-kraaaaaaah” alarm. Crested Guineafowl differ from Helmeted Guineafowl by being darker and having a plumed crest on top of the head.
It is common throughout its range, and large flocks roam the savannas, digging for invertebrates and tubers. It also calls a distinctive, plaintive “kuuuh-keeerk”.
Gallery