Photo: Bob / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) — Gamebirds of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is a member of the Numididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Galliformes
- Family Numididae Guineafowl
- Genus Numida
- Species meleagris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.3 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Numididae
- Order
- Galliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Helmeted Guineafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Helmeted Guineafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is a member of the Numididae family, within the order Galliformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.3 kg, with a wing length of about 25.4 cm and a tail of around 13.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.7 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Helmeted Guineafowl?
The Helmeted Guineafowl is a very large bird that weighs around 1.3 kg.
Where does the Helmeted Guineafowl live?
The Helmeted Guineafowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Helmeted Guineafowl belong to?
The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) belongs to the Numididae family, in the order Galliformes.
What does the Helmeted Guineafowl eat?
The Helmeted Guineafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Helmeted Guineafowl migrate?
The Helmeted Guineafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Helmeted Guineafowl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Helmeted Guineafowl make?
1 real field recording of the Helmeted Guineafowl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Helmeted Guineafowl's range?
The Helmeted Guineafowl has a mapped global range of about 12.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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