# Eastern Crested Guineafowl (*Guttera pucherani*) The Eastern Crested Guineafowl is a colorful bird with a unique crest on its head. It loves to roam around in groups and can often be found in forests and grasslands, making it a fun bird to spot! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests and grasslands ![Eastern Crested Guineafowl](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kenya_Crested_Guineafowl.jpg&width=800) Photo: eboy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kenya_Crested_Guineafowl.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Crested Guineafowl has striking dark grey-black plumage covered in fine white spots. Its most distinctive feature is a dense, curly black crest of feathers on its head, contrasting with bare pinkish-red facial skin. It lacks wattles or a casque. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Galliformes - **Family:** Numididae - **Genus:** Guttera ## Interesting facts - Their unique crest of feathers looks just like a fancy, fluffy crown! - These birds love to dust bathe, rolling around in dirt to clean their feathers! - They sleep high in trees to stay safe from hungry animals on the ground! - When scared, they often prefer to run away through bushes instead of flying! ## Special abilities - **Forest Navigator:** Eastern Crested Guineafowl can expertly navigate dense forests because of their compact body and powerful legs that help them move quickly through undergrowth. - **Alarm Caller:** Eastern Crested Guineafowl has a loud, sharp call that helps them warn their flock of approaching danger. - **Camouflage Master:** Eastern Crested Guineafowl has spotted feathers that help them blend seamlessly into the dappled light of the forest floor, hiding from predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-56 cm - **Wingspan:** 75-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.72-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 23-25 days ## Diet & Feeding They peck the ground for tasty insects, seeds, and fallen fruits to keep their energy up! - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Termites, Ants, Seeds, Berries, Leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard) (*Panthera pardus*) — A stealthy hunter that preys on ground-dwelling birds. - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — A powerful bird of prey that hunts from above. - **Eats:** [Termite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/termite) (*Macrotermes natalensis*) — A key source of protein found while foraging on the forest floor. - **Depends on:** Sycamore Fig (*Ficus sycomorus*) — Provides nutritious fruits and seeds during its fruiting season. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Crested Guineafowl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Crested Guineafowl? 45-56 cm ### What is Eastern Crested Guineafowl's wingspan? 75-90 cm ### How much does Eastern Crested Guineafowl weigh? 0.72-1.6 kg ### How long does Eastern Crested Guineafowl live? 5-8 years ### How fast can Eastern Crested Guineafowl move? 35 km/h ### What does Eastern Crested Guineafowl eat? They peck the ground for tasty insects, seeds, and fallen fruits to keep their energy up! ### Where is Eastern Crested Guineafowl usually found? Forests and grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eastern Crested Guineafowl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-crested-guineafowl)