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The Vulturine Guineafowl


The Vulturine Guineafowl
Photo Information
Copyright: Zahoor Ahmed (zahoor_salmi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 0 N: 391] (3712)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-11-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, 400f5.6 L
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-11-05 7:49
Viewed: 219
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) is the largest extant guineafowl species. Systematically, Acryllium are only distantly related to other guineafowl genera. Their closest living relative, the White Breasted Guineafowl, Agelastes meleagrides inhabit primary forests in Central Africa. bird family, Numididae, and is the only member of the genus Acryllium. It is a resident breeder in northeast Africa, from southern Ethiopia through Kenya and just into northern Tanzania.

It breeds in dry and open habitats with scattered bushes and trees, such as savannah or grassland. It lays its usually 4-8 cream-coloured eggs in a well-hidden grass-lined scrape.

Vulturine Guineafowl is a large (61-71cm) bird with a round body and small head. It is longer in the wings, neck, legs and tail than other guineafowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guineafowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long bare neck and head.

The slim neck projects from a cape of long, glossy, blue and white hackles. The breast is cobalt blue, and the rest of the body plumage is black, finely spangled with white. The wings are short and rounded, and the tail is longer than others in the family Numididae.

The sexes are similar, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male and with smaller tarsal spurs. Young birds are mainly grey-brown, with a duller blue breast and short hackles.

Vulturine Guineafowl is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds. This species' food is seeds and small invertebrates. This guineafowl is terrestrial, and will run rather than fly when alarmed. Despite the open habitat, it tends to keep to cover, and roosts in trees. It makes loud chink-chink-chink-chink-chink calls.
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Critiques [Translate]

What interesting face and colours have this bird!Nice picture.Best regards.Alin.

This is a "painting" photo! Great job! Nice pov, dof, colors, backround and color contrast between the bird and the bkround. Maybe it needed a little bit more "room" to the top because the head is almost at the top edge.
Tfs
Ilias

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-11-05 15:52]

Hi Ahmed,this beautiful bird and this fantastic pic no need comments but just a great great thanks,one of the most spectaculars bird's pics of this season.Have a nice day,Luciano

Hi there,
What a nice photo! The berries makes an interesting background making it look like the bird is on a stage. The colours and the sharpness is great!
I agree with Ilias, keep a little bit of space above the head to create a sense that the bird has enough of room for manoeuvre.

Have a great weekend, tfs!
Helena

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