Helmeted Guineafowl

1. Prominent bony casque (“helmet”) on a small, bare head with blue and red skin.

2. Dense white spotting on dark, rounded body.

3. Usually seen in noisy, active flocks on the ground.

These birds are ground-dwelling omnivores, feeding on seeds, bulbs, insects, and other invertebrates. They prefer to walk and can cover long distances each day, only flying short distances when threatened or to reach roosts. Flocks roost in trees at night for safety. Breeding usually follows rainy periods, with females laying 6–15 eggs in simple ground scrapes hidden in vegetation. Males often help guard and feed the nesting female and chicks. Social hierarchies are common within flocks, with domit males asserting their status.

Helmeted Guineafowl thrive in open habitats such as grasslands, savannas, bush edges, and farmland, especially where there are scattered trees or shrubs for roosting. In Australia, look for them in areas with access to water and open ground. They are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, foraging in groups and making loud, cackling calls that can be heard from a distance.

Native to Africa, Helmeted Guineafowl have been introduced worldwide, including to Australia, mainly for food and pest control. They have established wild populations in several non-native regions.