Bird’s ID – Vulturine Guineafowl

The Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) is the largest extant species of guineafowl. Systematically, it is only distantly related to other guineafowl genera. Its closest living relative, the white breasted guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides inhabit primary forests in Central Africa. It is a member of the bird family Numididae, and is the only member of the genus Acryllium. It is a resident breeder in northeast Africa, from southern Ethiopia through Kenya and just into northern Tanzania.

The vulturine guineafowl is a large (61–71 cm) 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.

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.

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.

Photo Gallery

18 thoughts on “Bird’s ID – Vulturine Guineafowl”

shoreacres on October 17, 2018 at 8:41 am said:

I once had a dress that was just that combination of black, white, and that exact color of blue. It’s amazing to see it in nature!

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 17, 2018 at 2:11 pm said:
  
  Thanks for sharing Linda! I bet you looked beautiful with that dress. 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on October 17, 2018 at 10:06 am said:

What a striking looking bird so well photographed.

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 17, 2018 at 2:13 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Susan. 🙂
  
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svtakeiteasy on October 17, 2018 at 5:05 pm said:

That blue is nearly iridescent! What a striking bird HJ.

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 17, 2018 at 6:09 pm said:
  
  The combination of black, white and cobalt blue is special. Thank you Chris.:)
  
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aussiebirder on October 17, 2018 at 10:18 pm said:

What strikingly beautiful colours this bird has HJ!

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 17, 2018 at 10:48 pm said:
  
  Thank you Ashley… It’s true! 🙂
  
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Dorinda Duclos on October 18, 2018 at 12:58 am said:

What an amazing looking bird! Beautiful shots, H.J.!

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 18, 2018 at 3:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you Dorinda! 🙂
  
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  - Dorinda Duclos on October 18, 2018 at 9:49 pm said:
    
    You’re welcome, my friend 🙂
kkessler833 on October 18, 2018 at 6:59 pm said:

Beautiful! I like the first photograph the best!

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 18, 2018 at 7:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you Kendall, that’s a good pick! 🙂
  
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  - kkessler833 on October 19, 2018 at 10:53 am said:
    
    You are welcome!
bayphotosbydonna on October 27, 2018 at 10:05 am said:

Wow, how beautiful, HJ! 🙂

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- H.J. for avian101 on October 27, 2018 at 1:46 pm said:
  
  Thanks Donna! 🙂
  
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Jonathan Caswell on November 27, 2018 at 7:18 pm said:

Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
PRETTY INTERESTING FOWL!

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- H.J. for avian101 on November 27, 2018 at 7:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Jonathan. 🙂
  
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