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Guineafowl

Theme area:  Aviary
Scientific name:  Numida meleagris
Class:  Birds
Continent:  Africa
Habitat:  Savannah
Diet:  Omnivore
Weight:  1 - 1.4 kg
Size:  50 - 63 cm
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ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR

The Helmeted Guineafowl has a highly developed gregarious nature.  It lives in large groups having developed alert calls which  allow it to take advantage of its fellow birds' vigilance in the event of a predator attack. It can run at high speed and only starts flying if there is danger.  It spends the night perched on tree branches to avoid predators on the ground.

At nesting time, guineafowl form pairs and stay together for life. The female builds her nest in a place hidden by vegetation. The hollow that she makes by scratching the ground with her claws is lined with a few leaves. She then lays between 6 and 20 eggs which she broods on her own. In exceptional cases, up to 50 eggs may be found in the same nest. It is assumed that this is the result of several females laying eggs.  Once hatched, the young are raised by the pair.

Conservation
Extinct
Extinct in the wild
Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near threatened
Least concern
Insufficient data
Not evaluated