Guineafowl 256059 225288886 2008-07-12T22:20:01Z מלמד כץ 7207940 /* External links */ {{Taxobox | name = Guineafowl | image = Helmeted guineafowl kruger00.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = [[Helmeted Guineafowl]], ''Numida meleagris'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Aves]] | ordo = [[Galliformes]] | familia = '''Numididae''' | familia_authority = [[Edmond de Sélys Longchamps|de Sélys Longchamps]], 1842 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = *''[[Agelastes]] '' *''[[Numida]] '' *''[[Guttera]] '' *''[[Acryllium]]'' }} The '''guineafowl''' (sometimes called guineahen) are a family of [[Aves|bird]]s in the same order as the [[pheasant]]s, [[Turkey (bird)|turkey]]s and other game birds and is native to [[Africa]]. ==Description and ecology== This is a family of [[insect]] and seed-eating, ground-nesting birds resembling [[partridge]]s, but with [[feather]]less heads and spangled grey plumage. At least three of the species are poorly studied. [[Image:Numida meleagris.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Helmeted Guineafowl from Namibia.]] The species for which the information is known are normally monogamous, mating for life. However, occasional bigamy has been recorded for the [[Helmeted Guineafowl]] (Madge and McGowan, p345-352). They are large birds which measure from 40-71 cm in length, and weigh 700-1600 g. The Helmeted Guineafowl has been domesticated and introduced outside its natural range, for example in southern [[France]], the [[West Indies]], and esp. the [[United States]]. The [[American Ornithologists' Union]] includes guineafowl (Numididae) as a subfamily of [[Phasianidae]]. [[Image:helmeted guinea fowl.jpg|thumb|Helmeted Guinea Fowl in tall grass]] <br style="clear:left;"/> ==List of species in taxonomic order== This is a list of guineafowl [[species (biology)|species]], presented in [[taxonomic order]]. * [[White-breasted Guineafowl]], ''Agelastes meleagrides'' * [[Black Guineafowl]], ''Agelastes niger'' * [[Helmeted Guineafowl]], ''Numida meleagris'' * [[Plumed Guineafowl]], ''Guttera plumifera'' * [[Crested Guineafowl]], ''Guttera pucherani'' * [[Vulturine Guineafowl]], ''Acryllium vulturinum'' ==Domesticated guineafowl== {{main article|Domesticated guineafowl}} Guineafowl have a long history of domestication, mainly involving the Helmeted Guineafowl. The young, called "keets" are very small at birth. The keets are kept in a brooder box inside the house until about 6 weeks of age, before being moved into a proper coop/enclosure. They eat lice, worms, ants, spiders, weedseeds, and ticks while on range or they can also eat chicken layer crumbles while housed in a coop. ==References== * Madge and McGowan,''Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse'' ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 * Martínez, I. (1994). Family Numididae (Guineafowl). Pp.554-570 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 2. New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 8487334156 ==External links== *[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=39 Guineafowl videos] on the Internet Bird Collection [[Category:Numididae|*]] [[Category:Bird families]] [[Category:Birds of Ghana]] [[frp:Pintâda]] [[bg:Токачки]] [[cs:Perličkovití]] [[da:Perlehøns]] [[de:Perlhühner]] [[es:Numididae]] [[fr:Pintade]] [[he:פניניתיים]] [[hr:Biserke]] [[it:Numida meleagris galeata]] [[id:Ayam Guinea]] [[sv:Pärlhöns]] [[sw:Kanga (ndege)]] [[ht:Pentad]] [[nl:Parelhoenders]] [[ja:ホロホロチョウ科]] [[no:Perlehøns]] [[pl:Perlice]] [[pt:Numididae]] [[ru:Цесарковые]] [[fi:Helmikanat]] [[te:గిన్నికోడి]] [[tr:Gine tavuğu]]