For more information
on other animals found at Cub Creek Science Camp visit our
animal page.
Guinea Fowl
The guinea fowl (sometimes called guinea hen) are a family
of birds in the Galliformes order, although some authorities
(for example the American Ornithologists' Union) include the
guinea fowl as a subfamily, Numidinae, of the family
Phasianidae. The guinea fowl are native to Africa, but the
Helmeted Guinea fowl has been domesticated and both feral
and wild-type birds have been introduced elsewhere.
This is a family of insect and seed-eating,
ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges, but with
featherless heads, though both members of the genus Guttera
have a distinctive black crest, and the Vulturine Guinea fowl
has a downy brown patch on the nape. Most species of
guinea fowl have a dark grey or blackish plumage with dense
white spots, but both members of the genus Agelastes lack
the spots (as do some domestic variants of the Helmeted
Guinea fowl). While several species are relatively well
known, the Plumed Guinea fowl and the two members of the
genus Agelastes remain relatively poorly known.
At Cub Creek Science Camp we have a flock
of Guineas. They roam the ranch in search of insects.
We really like the Guineas because they help keep the tick
population down during summer Science Camp. They are
hardy birds with wonderful white polka dot feathers.
Our Science Camp campers may find these black and white
feathers lying around on the ground during the summer.
