Skip to main content
Least Concern

Western Crested Guineafowl

Guttera verreauxi

Western Crested Guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi) — Gamebirds of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

See what's near you right now

The Western Crested Guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi) is a member of the Numididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Galliformes
  3. Family Numididae Guineafowl
  4. Genus Guttera
  5. Species verreauxi

Where it lives

Guinea-Bissau to northwestern Cameroon, western Kenya, Zambia and Angola

Quick facts

Weight
1.1 kg
Diet
Omnivores
Family
Numididae
Order
Galliformes
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Western Crested Guineafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Western Crested Guineafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Western Crested Guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi) is a species of bird in the Numididae family, part of the order Galliformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Guinea-Bissau to nw Cameroon, w Kenya, Zambia and Angola.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 27.1 cm and a tail of around 11.7 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 2.4 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Western Crested Guineafowl?

The Western Crested Guineafowl is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Western Crested Guineafowl live?

The Western Crested Guineafowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF Guinea-Bissau to nw Cameroon, w Kenya, Zambia and Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Western Crested Guineafowl belong to?

The Western Crested Guineafowl (Guttera verreauxi) belongs to the Numididae family, in the order Galliformes.

What does the Western Crested Guineafowl eat?

The Western Crested Guineafowl is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Western Crested Guineafowl migrate?

The Western Crested Guineafowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Western Crested 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.

How large is the Western Crested Guineafowl's range?

The Western Crested Guineafowl has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Numididae

More in Game Birds

Back to top