The vulturine guinea fowl (Acryllium vulturinum) is the largest extant species of guinea fowl. Systematically, it is only distantly related to other guinea fowl genera. Its closest living relative, the white breasted guinea fowl, 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 and Somalia through Kenya and just into northern Tanzania.
Region
Horn of Africa and East Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Ethiopia and Somalia through much of northern and eastern Kenya into northern Tanzania. It favors arid and semi-arid savannas, thornscrub, and Acacia-Commiphora bushland with patches of open ground. Birds often stay near thickets for cover and use dry riverbeds, game trails, and edges of scrub for foraging. They roost communally in trees and concentrate around water sources in dry seasons.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The vulturine guineafowl is the largest living guineafowl and the only member of its genus. Its bare, vulture-like head and long, glossy blue-and-white hackles make it unmistakable. Highly social, it forms tight flocks that prefer to run swiftly from danger, taking short flights mainly to roost in trees. It inhabits dry bush and savanna across the Horn of Africa and adjacent East Africa.
Upper body
At Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
Temperament
social and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; prefers to run
Social Behavior
Outside breeding, they travel in cohesive flocks of 10–30 or more, keeping contact with constant chatter. Pairs form in the breeding season, and nests are shallow scrapes on the ground hidden in dense cover. Clutches are relatively large, and groups often roost together in trees for safety.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, metallic cackles and rattling chatters used to keep the flock together. Alarm calls are harsh and repeated, carrying far across open bush.
Plumage
Long, lanceolate hackles with glossy blue and white streaks over a largely black body densely speckled with fine white spots.
Diet
They consume a varied mix of seeds, bulbs, grass shoots, and fallen fruits, supplemented by a wide range of invertebrates. Insects such as termites, ants, and beetles are taken opportunistically, especially after rains. Birds scratch at soil and leaf litter to dislodge hidden prey and pick items from the surface. Small pebbles are ingested to aid grinding in the gizzard.
Preferred Environment
Foraging occurs on open ground within thornscrub and savanna, along tracks, dry riverbeds, and the margins of thickets. They often feed near cover to retreat quickly from predators and visit waterholes in dry periods.
