Black guineafowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black guineafowl |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Agelastes
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| Species: |
niger
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The black guineafowl (Agelastes niger) is a type of bird that lives on the ground. It belongs to the guineafowl family and is found in the wet forests of West-Central Africa. This medium-sized bird is mostly black. It has a head and upper neck that are bare, showing orange-pink skin.
Because black guineafowl live in thick, hard-to-reach parts of the African jungle, we don't know much about how they behave. They are quite shy and secretive birds. Other guineafowl, like the helmeted guineafowl or the vulturine guineafowl, are easier to study. This is because they live in open grasslands and dry forests, and they gather in larger groups. Black guineafowl are very careful birds. They live in smaller groups and are always watching for danger. If they sense anything, they quickly hide in the bushes.
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Meet the Black Guineafowl
What Does It Look Like?
An adult black guineafowl has a head and upper neck without feathers, which shows off its pink skin. It has a small crest of soft feathers on its forehead and the top of its head. Its throat and lower neck also have a few soft feathers. The rest of its body and tail feathers are black. Some pale spots can be seen on its belly.
Male black guineafowl usually have one to three sharp spurs on their legs. Females either have no spurs or just one short one. Young birds look similar to adults. However, they have light brown tips on their upper feathers, a spotted chest, and a white belly. Their beak is greenish-grey, and their legs are greyish-brown.
Males are usually a bit bigger than females. They grow to about 42 cm (16.5 inches) long and weigh around 700 grams (1.5 pounds).
What Does It Sound Like?
The black guineafowl makes a simple, high-pitched "kwee" sound. It repeats this call two to three times every second. When it senses danger, its alarm call is even louder and faster.
How Black Guineafowl Live
Daily Life and Food
Not much research has been done on the black guineafowl. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups. This bird is very shy and likes to stay hidden on the forest floor. It lives in both old and new tropical rainforests. It prefers areas with thick plants and bushes. Sometimes, it might go into nearby farm fields.
Black guineafowl eat many different things. They like invertebrates such as ants, termites, millipedes, and beetles. They also eat small frogs, seeds, berries, and plant shoots.
Nesting Habits
We don't know much about how these birds build their nests. Their eggs are a pale reddish-brown. Sometimes, they might have a yellow or purple tint. They might lay eggs during the dry season, or perhaps at any time of the year.
Where They Live
The black guineafowl lives in the western part of Central Africa, south of the Sahara desert. You can find them in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Angola, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their home range is about 764,000 square kilometers (295,000 square miles).
These birds spend most of their time on the forest floor looking for food. They live in primary (very old) and secondary (newer) tropical rainforests. Sometimes, they search for food in farm fields or pastures. No matter where they are, black guineafowl feel safest near thick jungle plants. This allows them to quickly escape from threats or predators.
Their Status in Nature
The number of black guineafowl seems to be going down. This is because people hunt them for food, possibly too much. Their home also faces damage. However, the bird is still quite common in the areas where it lives. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as a species of least concern on its Red List of Threatened Species. This means that even though their numbers are declining, it's not fast enough to put them in a more endangered group right now.
