Vulturine Guineafowl
Acryllium vulturinum
An unusual long-necked, long-tailed guineafowl with a mostly naked head. The blue breast is overlaid with long black-and-white feathers, and there is a chestnut patch on the nape. Immatures are duller and brownish, but usually associate with adults. Found in dry savanna and thornscrub, almost always in flocks, which vary from a few individuals up to dozens. The call is an agitated-sounding up-and-down rattling series, similar to the call of Helmeted Guineafowl, but higher-pitched.
Identification
The vulturine guineafowl is a large (61–71 centimetres (24–28 in)) bird with a round body and small head. It has a longer wings, neck, legs and tail than other guineafowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guineafowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long bare neck and head.<p>The slim neck projects from a cape of long, glossy, blue and white hackles. The breast is cobalt blue, and the rest of the body plumage is black, finely spangled with white. The wings are short and rounded, and the tail is longer than others in the family Numididae.<p>The sexes are similar, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male and with smaller tarsal spurs. Young birds are mainly grey-brown, with a duller blue breast and short hackles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Acryllium vulturinum
- Authority
- (Hardwicke, 1834)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Numididae
- Genus
- Acryllium
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The vulturine guineafowl is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds. This species' food is seeds and small invertebrates. This guineafowl is terrestrial and will run rather than fly when alarmed. Despite the open habitat, it tends to keep to cover, and roosts in trees. It makes loud chink-chink-chink-chink-chink calls.<p>It breeds in dry and open habitats with scattered bushes and trees, such as savannah or grassland. It usually lays 4–8 cream-coloured eggs in a well-hidden grass-lined scrape.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow
Gymnoris pyrgita
A large, remarkably nondescript sparrow of dry country. Note the pale bill, the white eye-ring, the gray-brown back, the paler underparts, and the white throat. The small yellow throat spot is difficult to see. Found in dry thorn savanna, woodland, and lightly cultivated areas, often in small groups. Similar to Sahel Bush Sparrow, but lacks a distinctive eyebrow mark. Also similar to Pale Rockfinch, but has less patterning on the wing and a clearly defined white throat. The calls are cheerful chirps, often given in a quick series.
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Familiar but stunning jay found year-round throughout most of eastern North America. Bright blue above and pale gray below with a fluffy crest. Also look for black necklace and black and white markings on the wings and tail. Pairs or small groups travel through mature deciduous or coniferous woodlands, often revealing their presence with loud, harsh “jay” calls. Frequently visits bird feeders, where it is often aggressive towards other birds.
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
Massive bird of prey, restricted to mature forest and always rare. Enormous talons. Adult is dark gray above, paler below, with obvious dark breast band. Note more obvious black-and-white barring on wings in flight to help separate it from Crested Eagle. Juvenile has whiter head than adult and no breast band; very similar to Crested Eagle but note longer crest with two points (separated in the middle). Feeds on monkeys and sloths. Usually seen perched in the canopy or flying across a road or river, does not soar.
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