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Kenya Crested Guineafowl

Guttera pucherani

A chicken-sized East African bird with white-spotted dark feathers and a curly black crest on its head.

🐓 Ground Birds
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About the Kenya Crested Guineafowl

Kenya crested guineafowl, also called eastern crested guineafowl, live in Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania. They are about 20 inches long and weigh 1.5 to 3.4 pounds. They have a black crest on top of the head that gives them their name. They eat mostly insects, seeds and roots.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Guttera pucherani[1]
Size
About 20 inches long.[1]
Weight
1.5 to 3.4 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
10 to 15 years.[1]
Diet
Omnivore. Mostly insects, seeds and roots.[1]
Where it lives
Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.[1]
Group life
Monogamous pairs with strong bonds.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).[2]

Fun facts

  • Its crest of black feathers gives it its name.[1]
  • Pairs stay together for a long time.[1]
  • It's also called the eastern crested guineafowl.[1]

Vocabulary

crest
A tuft of feathers on top of a bird's head.
guineafowl
An African ground bird related to chickens and pheasants.
omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
monogamous
Having one mate at a time, sometimes for life.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Virginia Zoo. “Kenya Crested Guineafowl.” https://virginiazoo.org/animal/kenya-crested-guinea-fowl/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Guttera pucherani (Eastern Crested Guineafowl).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22725212/280948567 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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