guineafowl

Guineafowl are a group of African birds in the family Numididae, within the order Galliformes. The best-known species is the helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris), which has been domesticated in many regions. Other wild guineafowl occur across sub-Saharan Africa, including species in the genera Guttera and Acryllium. They are medium-sized, plump birds with short wings and strong legs. The helmeted form is notable for its bare blue head with a casque and a grey, spotted body.

Guineafowl are mainly ground foragers. Their diet is omnivorous, including seeds, grains, fruits, invertebrates, and occasionally small vertebrates. They inhabit open habitats such as savannas, grasslands, and field margins. They are highly social, often moving in large flocks by day and roosting in trees at night to escape predators. Distinctive calls keep flocks in contact through dense cover.

Breeding is typically ground-nesting. A female lays a clutch of eggs in a shallow scrape or nest hidden in vegetation. Incubation lasts about 22 to 28 days, usually by the female, with parental care shared in some species. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest within a day or two, foraging with adults soon after hatch.

Domesticated guineafowl are kept for meat and eggs and, in some regions, for pest control because of their insect foraging. They tolerate free-ranging conditions but can be noisy and require space. Wild populations vary by species in conservation status, with some species secure and others threatened by habitat loss or hunting.