Friday, September 29, 2017

Birds Wearing Helmets

We were driving the other day,  and these birds were crossing the street. There was a fair amount of traffic.They were trying to fly, but couldn't.



Upon getting to the other side, they spread out in a big field and began to graze.




I had never seen anything like them! They had big red wattles, white faces, hard cones on their heads, piercing black eyes, and a beautiful feather pattern. Phil knew that they were Guinea Fowl! I later discovered they are called Helmeted Guinea Fowl, and come from New Zealand. I have since seen them cross the road again. Strange birds.


“A wind set in motion by God swept quails in from the sea. They piled up to a depth of about three feet in the camp and as far out as a day’s walk in every direction. All that day and night and into the next day the people were out gathering the quail”

Numbers 11

18 comments:

Small Kucing said...

interesting . now that you mentioned it, they do look like wearing a helmet :)

Hootin Anni said...

I have seen them, but only in ZOOS!!! Never in the 'wild'. What an awesome sighting Ginny. And really enjoyed your photos and narration.

Ann said...

They look like they are wearing polka dotted pajamas with their crash helmets :)

DeniseinVA said...

Great photos Ginny. I saw some at the local farm and nursery festival a while back. They are very interesting looking birds and I enjoyed the extra info about them. Thank you, you always find the coolest things to take photos of.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Guineas are crazy! My daughter in law had a pack of them, and they are so territorial.

MadSnapper said...

I have never seen these either, not on blogs or on TV or in movies, never until now. I have heard the name Guinea Fowl, but did not know what they were. they look like they might be edible like turkey.. not that I want to but they sure are fat

MadSnapper said...

per google they are edible but we should not eat them, they are watch dogs on a farm
Some of you, if you're of a certain age or if you've spent any time at all on a small farm, might be wondering why anyone would want to eat a guinea hen. Guinea hens are tough old farm birds who make good "watchdogs." ... They're good at eating grasshoppers and other crop-chomping pests

L. D. said...

I have not seen that kind of fowl for a long time. They are an unusual lot. Our neighbors on the farm when I was a kid in the 60's had them. They didn't bother to have a shed for them and they all roosted in the trees and on top of garage roof.

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

Not familiar with that bird at all. We have too many Canada geese and for us it is unlawful to use them in any way. They also love to cross roads and hold up traffic.

Chatty Crone said...

I have never seen them either - you think they flew here from New Zealand? At first it looked like a turkey - but not up close.

LV said...

You live in an area just full of wonderful finds. Never saw these birds before either. Great work.

Tamago said...

Wow I've never known guinea fowls before. Phil is very knowledgeable! I love their unique and adorable looks. It looks like they have eyebrows :-) Their helmet is so cute, too!

Ruth Hiebert said...

They do have a unique look. I wonder of they were raised in captivity and got out or were released.

Nancy Chan said...

Very unique bird. No wonder they are named Helmeted Guinea Fowls!

crafty cat corner said...

Such big birds and lovely markings, lucky they got across safely.
Briony
x

DawnTreader said...

Funny! :)

R's Rue said...

Beautiful.

UplayOnline said...

they do look like wearing a helmet :)


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