Crested guineafowl facts for kids

The crested guineafowl (Guttera sp.) are a group of three bird species. They belong to the guineafowl family, called Numididae. You can find them in open forests, woodlands, and areas where forests meet savannas in sub-Saharan Africa.

Quick facts for kids Crested guineafowl
G. p. edouardi in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Numididae
Genus:	Guttera
Groups included
Guttera edouardi Guttera pucherani Guttera verreauxi
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa
Guttera plumifera

Crested Guineafowl: What Do They Look Like?

These birds are about 50 cm (20 in) long. They usually weigh between 721 and 1543 grams (1.6 to 3.4 lb). Their feathers are mostly black with many small white spots.

A special feature of the crested guineafowl is the black crest on their heads. This crest can look different depending on the type of guineafowl. It might be made of small curly feathers or soft downy feathers. This crest helps tell them apart from other guineafowl, except for the plumed guineafowl.

Family Life: How They Raise Their Young

Crested guineafowl are known to be monogamous. This means a male and female bird usually stay together for a long time. They form strong pair bonds.

Sometimes, you might see the male bird offering food to the female. This is called courtship feeding. The nest is a hidden spot on the ground, often in tall grass or under a bush. The eggs can be almost white to a light brown color. A female usually lays about four or five eggs at a time.

Different Kinds of Crested Guineafowl

G. p. pucherani in Arabuko Sokoke N.P., eastern Kenya

G. p. edouardi in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, eastern South Africa

G. p. edouardi in Somkhanda Game Reserve, eastern South Africa

Scientists have discussed how to group the different types of crested guineafowl. Most experts now agree there are five main types, or subspecies, within three species.

These different types can be told apart by their crests. Also, the color and position of patches on their gray-blue necks and faces can vary. These patches can be almost white, yellow, or even red.

Where Do Different Types Live?

The pucherani species lives in East Africa, from Somalia to Tanzania. This type has a gray-blue neck and a lot of red on its face.

The southern crested guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) is found in southern, central, and west Africa. These birds have a bluish face and neck. However, the back of their neck can be very pale gray (almost white) in some types. Their throat might be red in others.

Recently, in 2022 and 2023, some bird organizations decided to split the crested guineafowl into three separate species:

• The eastern crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)
• The western crested guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi)
• The southern crested guineafowl (Guttera edouardi)

Meet the Subspecies

Here are the recognized subspecies of crested guineafowl:

• Southern crested guineafowl, Guttera edouardi
  • G. e. edouardi barbata – Malawi crested guineafowl – found from southeastern Tanzania to eastern Mozambique and Malawi
  • G. e. edouardi – Edward's crested guineafowl – found from eastern Zambia to Mozambique and eastern South Africa

• Eastern crested guineafowl, Guttera pucherani
  • G. p. pucherani – Kenya crested guineafowl – found from Somalia to Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Tumbatu Island

• Western crested guineafowl, Guttera verreauxi
  • G. v. sclateri – Sclater's crested guineafowl – found in northwestern Cameroon
  • G. v. verreauxi – Lindi crested guineafowl – found from Guinea-Bissau to western Kenya, Angola, and Zambia