vulturine guineafowl
Acryllium Vulturinum
IUCN Status: Least concern
Diet
A dirt scratching omnivore eating anything they expose as they disturb the ground. This could be tubers, seeds, insects, small vertebrates, snails and fallen fruits
Breeding
Nests are made in the open savannah amongst bushes and trees with 4-8 eggs being laid
At The Zoo
We have a pair of these strange but pleasantly pretty birds here. They have a new exhibit (2017) specially designed to keep the wet winter weather away from them. Our cock bird is very old and we are always hoping that one year he may help produce some fertile eggs!
Habitat
A North-east African resident of the savannah grasslands.
Fun Facts
This bird has a bald head and neck like a vultures (hence its name). Extremely pretty with vibrant blue feathers this is the largest species of guineafowl.
Behaviour
Similar too helmeted guineafowl this is a ground loving (terrestrial) flock bird. Only splitting into pairs for breeding and rearing “keets” (baby guineafowl).