Both birds are predominantly black with small white polka dots. They are two-thirds the size of chickens -- about 20 inches long.

The conspicuous horny "helmet" on top of their naked heads distinguishes helmeted Guinea fowl. The head region is brightly pigmented with blue, red and yellow.

A band of downy feathers on the back of its head makes the Vulturine Guinea fowl look like a bald man. The birds' distinguishing characteristics are red eyes and a hackle of long, black and white striped feathers that partially cover a bright blue breast.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:

The four species of guinea fowl are mainly confined to Africa south of the Sahara, although a population of Helmeted Guinea fowl is found north of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Helmeted Guinea fowl are common from Chad to the Rift Valley, south to Zaire, Kenya and Uganda in open grasslands.

Vulturine Guinea fowl inhabit arid regions of Somalia in sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer the thickets and tangled scrub at the edges of lowland forests.

BEHAVIOR:

Guinea fowl are capable of flight, but they forage and nest on the ground.

Helmeted Guinea fowl are noisy and gregarious birds, but they are often inconspicuous when feeding among trees and scrub. Towards evening the harsh, abrasive cackles of roosting flocks sound through the trees until silenced by nightfall. Flocks of several hundred birds are common and 2,000 birds have been counted in one flock.

Vulturine Guinea fowl form much smaller flocks of 20-30 except during the breeding season, when they split up into family groups.

DIET:

All guinea fowl are ground dwelling opportunistic feeders. Helmeted Guinea fowl forage in large flocks for bulbs, tubers, berries, insects and snails. Vulturine Guinea fowl often follow troops of monkeys to feed on fallen fruit. Vulturine Guinea fowl can live without drinking water.

REPRODUCTION and GROWTH:

Flocks break up in the breeding season and the breeding adults form monogamous pairs. Vulturine Guinea fowl lay clutches of 4-6 eggs. Helmeted Guinea fowl lay 6-19 eggs. Only the females incubate the eggs, which hatch in 24-30 days.

NOTE:

The Helmeted Guinea fowl has been domesticated for use as a food source and is found on farms the world over.