The world fauna is very diverse and rich in interesting representatives. Vulture guinea fowl is an unusual and vibrant bird that lives in Africa. It is the only representative of the same genus. Consider in this article its origin, description, as well as its characteristics.
Vulture guinea fowl: origin of the name
Oddly enough, the name of the bird is absolutely not associated with vultures that feed on carrion. It came from her appearance. The guinea fowl has a small head, a thin and long neck framed by a feather collar, and this is typical for the birds of the Grifov family.
The beak of the bird is strongly concave, short and very strong, which also has a great resemblance to the neck of the neck. But that is not all. They have similar behavioral symptoms. Vultures go for predators so that they get the remains of their prey. Guinea fowl can follow the monkeys to feast on the remnants of fruit from their meal. Therefore, the origin of their name is quite logical.
Bird description
Description vulture guinea fowl is quite interesting. The length of an adult bird can be 50 centimeters. As for the weight, it reaches 1.5 kilograms.
These birds have a very dense body. Their chest is powerful, and their legs are unusually strong. Due to the fact that they have large wings, guinea fowl can calmly fly up the trees. They are characterized by a long tail that hangs to the ground.
The most unusual in these birds is their plumage. It is very colorful and consists of such colors as:
- The black.
- Cobalt blue.
- Purple.
- White.
Their wings are painted in black and white. The back is black, and white dots are placed on it. The chest is decorated with bright blue strands. Below you can see a photo of a vulture guinea fowl to better understand what its plumage is.
Habitat
Previously, many believed that these birds live in West Africa, but as it turned out, this is an erroneous opinion. It turns out that the vulture guinea fowl prefers to live in the eastern side of Africa, on Ethiopian, Kenyan, Somali and Tanzanian lands.
Birds prefer a dry, flat area where a lot of acacia and thorny bushes grow. Due to the fact that guinea fowl live in arid territories, they can perfectly adapt to a variety of conditions. For this reason, they can be grown at home in different parts of the world.
Despite the fact that they are desert animals, they have a very bright color, which is not peculiar to birds living in such an area. Due to such a noticeable color, they are often attacked by predators.
Bird lifestyle
These bright animals prefer to live in packs, which in most cases consist of 30 individuals. It happens that the number of birds reaches 50 individuals. They are able to fly at distances of no more than 0.5 kilometers. If predators attack them, then guinea fowls will not fly away, they will flee. On average, birds live up to 10 years.
A sense of community is characteristic of birds. For example, if predators attack them, then they unite. Together they try to protect the chicks by hiding them in the center of their flock. In family life guinea fowls are also a complete understanding. The male always helps his female to find food for the chicks. Such is the friendly lifestyle of vulture guinea fowls.
Breeding season
The breeding season of birds begins with the arrival of tropical showers, because at this time there is a lot of moisture and food. The flock begins to split in pairs. There are those who are left without a second half, so small groups of individuals are created.
In order not to remain alone, the males resort to the seduction of beautiful guinea fowl. The plumage helps them in this. They walk with their heads bowed and their wings spread wide. If a female has to fight with a competitor, the male will fight for her with her strong legs, wings and beak, which attracts her attention.
Guinea fowl do not build nests for their eggs, they lay them in earthen cavities. A month is enough to hatch the chicks. On average, five new family members appear.
Males also take part in feeding chicks. They get protein food for them. For example:
- spiders
- larvae;
- various insects.
Home Content
The content of vulture guinea fowls is not as complex as it might seem at first glance. They need to be well looked after, but it does not take much effort.
For guinea fowls, you should choose a clean and spacious room, and also regularly release them in fresh air. As for food, here they are definitely unpretentious. They eat less than chickens.
When it is warm outside, it is customary to keep birds in spacious enclosures. If they live in an open area, then they need to cut their wings so that they do not fly away from your yard. Only a couple of fly feathers need to be trimmed, otherwise you can ruin their appearance.
For a comfortable existence, one bird needs 3 square meters in an open aviary. The terrain must be selected so that vegetation grows on it. It’s best to establish some kind of water source that the chicks really need.
It is also necessary to make a canopy so that during the heat the birds can hide under it. They can also sleep under it. You also need to build perches, which are located at a height of about 50 cm.
If the vulture guinea fowl are in a closed aviary, then 2 square meters should fall on one individual. The enclosure cover must be transparent, it is best to make it out of polycarbonate. It is recommended to give preference to colored material, so that the animals do not get sunlight. The room should be spacious and with perches. These birds need to move a lot, so they like to fly from perch to perch.
For litter, you can choose sawdust or wood shavings. It must be ensured that it is always clean and dry. If this is not done, then the birds will have infectious diseases.
Still need to make an exit from the enclosure to the house, in which the birds will go to warm up, so it is recommended to insulate the walls in it. The most suitable temperature for the chicken coop is +10 degrees Celsius. You also need to make a ventilation system so that the air is always fresh.
These birds do not need nests, because they lay their eggs on the floor in some secluded corner. It is necessary to monitor the implementation of the masonry. If you find this place, then you do not need to immediately take the eggs, because the female will begin to lay them in another place, and you will have to look for him again. On average, 60 eggs can be collected per season.
What do they eat?
Basically, they feed on low-growing plants and insects. Most of the water they get from food, as well as morning dew settling on the grass.
They have an amazing ability to absorb large amounts of water from food due to the fact that they have a very long cecum, uncharacteristic of other species of birds.
