Southern Crested Guineafowl vs Western Crested Guineafowl
Guttera edouardi compared with Guttera verreauxi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Southern Crested Guineafowl | Western Crested Guineafowl |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guttera edouardi | Guttera verreauxi |
| Order | Galliformes | Galliformes |
| Family | Numididae | Numididae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 55.1 cm (21.7 in) | 54.3 cm (21.4 in) |
| Weight | 1315.0 g (46.39 oz) | 1035.0 g (36.51 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous; scratches for insects, seeds, fallen fruits, and small vertebrates in southern African forests and … | Omnivorous; forages in West African forests and savanna for invertebrates, seeds, and small fruits. Scratches … |
| Clutch Size | 4-5 | 4-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Southern Crested Guineafowl only
Western Crested Guineafowl only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Southern Crested Guineafowl
Produces a loud, raucous cackling call and guttural chuckling. Calls are slightly lower than Eastern Crested Guineafowl; echoes through southern African savanna and forest edge.
Western Crested Guineafowl
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Southern Crested Guineafowl
Resident in southern Africa from Zimbabwe and Mozambique south to the Cape. Found in dense coastal and riverine forest.
Western Crested Guineafowl
Resident in West Africa from Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria. Found in forest, forest-savanna mosaic, and secondary growth.
Conservation Status
Southern Crested Guineafowl
Western Crested Guineafowl
How to Tell Them Apart
Southern Crested Guineafowl
Black body densely covered with white spots; bare blue-red facial skin; prominent erect curly black crest; red wattles; white spots largest on flanks. Southernmost crested guineafowl, similar to other Guttera …
Western Crested Guineafowl
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.
About These Birds
Southern Crested Guineafowl
A medium-large guineafowl (~1.3 kg) of family Numididae, with a distinctive curly black crest and white-spotted black plumage. Inhabits forests and thickets in southern Africa, from Tanzania to South Africa. Forages on the ground in groups for seeds, berries, and invertebrates. Least Concern; common in suitable forest habitats across southern Africa and well represented in protected areas.
Western Crested Guineafowl
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.