Helmeted Guineafowl

Afrikaans name: Gewone Tarentaal

Helmeted Guineafowl

Photo © Steven Herbert

Numida meleagris

The Helmeted Guineafowl is a well-known bird and it is found over most of South Africa.

It is found in savanna, woodland, grassland and farmland.

The Helmeted Guineafowl is a gregarious bird that can be found in small to large flocks.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Males have a larger casque on the head than that of the females.

The female lays a large clutch of eggs - sometimes numbering over 20.

The other species of Guineafowl found in South Africa is the Crested Guineafowl.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	192	Numida mitrata mitrata
2nd	192	Numida meleagris
3rd	192	Numida meleagris
4th	192	Numida meleagris
5th	203	Numida meleagris
6th	203	Numida meleagris
7th	20	Numida meleagris

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	192	Crowned Guineafowl
2nd	192	Crowned Guinea-fowl
3rd	192	Crowned Guinea-fowl
4th	192	Crowned Guinea-fowl
5th	203	Helmeted Guineafowl
6th	203	Helmeted Guineafowl
7th	20	Helmeted Guineafowl

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	192	Madagaska-tarentaal
2nd	192	Tarentaal
3rd	192	Tarentaal
4th	192	Tarentaal
5th	203	Gewone Tarentaal
6th	203	Gewone Tarentaal
7th	20	Gewone Tarentaal

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 47

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 72

Wild Issue 41 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 77

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 39

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 13

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 79

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 46

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 97

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 110

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 138

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 134

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 182

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 178

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 135

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 126

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 100

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 2

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 22

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 148

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 148

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 44

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 409

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 156

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 102

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 52

Gamebirds of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: P.A. Clancey - Published: 1967 - Page: 158

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 117

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 170

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 179

First Field Guide to Animal Tracks of Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2003 - Page: 12

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 126

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 82

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 29

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 24

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 49

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 72

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 66

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 28

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 54

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 93

Adventure Trails in Kirstenbosch - Author: Daphne Mackie - Published: 2012 - Page: 95

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 72

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 160

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 160

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 92

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List of South African Birds