Guttera edouardi
The Southern Crested Guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) is a striking medium-sized gamebird, easily identifiable by its unique black, often curly, helmet-like crest and dense white 'pearly' spotting across its otherwise dark, slate-grey to black plumage. Averaging 50-58 cm in length and weighing between 750-1300g, this plump terrestrial bird also features patches of bare blue-grey and red skin on its face and neck, with a prominent red wattle sometimes present. Taxonomically, it belongs to the fam...
Found primarily in dense indigenous forests, woodlands, thickets, and riverine habitats, often with a preference for moist conditions and good undergrowth cover. Occurs from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters in elevation.
Omnivorous, feeding mainly on insects (termites, ants, beetles), snails, seeds, berries, bulbs, roots, and occasionally small reptiles, foraged by scratching the forest floor.
Southern Crested Guineafowl are diurnal, highly social birds, typically foraging in groups of 10-20 individuals, occasionally forming larger coveys of up to 50. They spend their days scratching for food on the forest floor, exhibiting a constant, wary vigilance. At night, these birds roost commun...
The Southern Crested Guineafowl is resident across a broad swathe of Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily within Southern and Eastern Africa. Its distribution extends from southern Somalia and coastal Kenya southwards through Tanzania, Malawi, eastern Zambia, Mozambique, Eswatini, and eastern South Afri...
Least Concern
- Unlike other guineafowl with bony casques, the Southern Crested Guineafowl's 'helmet' is actually a prominent, curly tuft of black feathers. - Despite their bold white spots, their dark plumage and ground-dwelling habits provide excellent camouflage within the dappled light of their forest habi...