- Acryllium vulturinum
Identification
61-71cm. Bare blue face, black neck, long bare neck and head. The neck projects from a cape of long, glossy, blue and white hackles, cobalt blue breast, black body, spangled with white. The wings are short and rounded. 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.
Distribution
North-eastern Africa; from southern and eastern Ethiopia and Somalia to ne Uganda, Kenya and ne Tanzania.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
Habitat
Arid acacia scrub.
Behaviour
This is a very distinctive, long-tailed Guineafowl that is adapted to the arid regions of NE Africa. It will drink when water is available but can go for long periods without. Although they appear to be predominantly ground dwelling (you normally see them scratching along in small or large flocks feeding) they are strong fliers and they roost in trees at night. Although normally gregarious they become less so when breeding.
The diet includes seeds and small invertebrates.
