Agelastes meleagrides
The White-breasted Guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides, is a strikingly marked and enigmatic galliform bird native to the dense, humid rainforests of West Africa. Measuring approximately 40-45 cm in length and weighing between 700-1000 grams, its most distinctive feature is its brilliant, unfeathered red head and upper neck, adorned with patches of bright blue skin around the eyes and throat. This vivid head coloration contrasts sharply with its glossy black body plumage, dramatically offset by...
This species primarily inhabits the understory of dense, humid lowland to submontane primary rainforests, often near clearings or along forest edges. It is typically found at elevations up to 1200 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates such as insects (termites, ants, beetles), grubs, and snails, supplemented by fallen fruits, seeds, and tubers found by scratching in the forest floor litter.
The White-breasted Guineafowl is a largely diurnal, terrestrial bird, spending most of its time foraging on the forest floor, though it roosts communally in trees at night. Foraging involves meticulously scratching through leaf litter and damp soil to uncover a variety of food items. They are gen...
The White-breasted Guineafowl is endemic to the Upper Guinean forests of West Africa, with its fragmented range spanning parts of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. It is a resident species, with no known migratory patterns or wintering grounds outside its breeding range. Wh...
Vulnerable
- The White-breasted Guineafowl's scientific genus name, *Agelastes*, means 'not laughing' or 'grave,' possibly referring to its somber, dark plumage and elusive nature, contrasting with other more brightly colored pheasants. - Its stunning, unfeathered red head and blue facial patches are key id...