Western Crested Guineafowl
Guttera verreauxi
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<birdfyi-bird slug="guttera-verreauxi"></birdfyi-bird>About
A medium-large guineafowl (~1 kg) of family Numididae, with spotted black-and-white plumage and a curly black crest. Found in forest edges, moist woodland, and savanna in West Africa from Gambia to Nigeria. Forages in flocks for seeds, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Least Concern; common across West African forest-savanna mosaic and tolerates habitat disturbance.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 54.3 cm | 21.4 in |
| Weight | 1035.0 g | 36.51 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Dark grey-black body densely spotted white; bare blue-grey and red facial skin; distinctive curly black crest on crown; facial skin turquoise-blue; red wattles. Black curly crest separates from Helmeted Guineafowl.
Habitat & Range
Geographic Range
Resident in West Africa from Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria. Found in forest, forest-savanna mosaic, and secondary growth.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous; forages in West African forests and savanna for invertebrates, seeds, and small fruits. Scratches ground in flocks.
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 23 days. Fledging: 30 days.
Clutch Size
4-5
Sound
Song
Produces a loud, raucous cackling call and guttural chuckling notes. The raucous cackling call echoes through West African forest edge and gallery forest; slightly lower than Eastern Crested.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes (Gamebirds) |
| Family | Numididae (Guineafowl) |
| Genus | Guttera |
| Species | Guttera verreauxi |
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Western Crested Guineafowl eat?
Where does the Western Crested Guineafowl live?
Is the Western Crested Guineafowl endangered?
How does the Western Crested Guineafowl nest?
What does the Western Crested Guineafowl sound like?
How big is the Western Crested Guineafowl?
What order and family does the Western Crested Guineafowl belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Numididae family