Help identifying some birds

[Neon Heart]

Can anybody tell me what these birds are? I've seen them on several occasions, always close together. They flew up today and were really clumsy at getting into the air.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...0/ppuser/19899

[Jason Green]

They look like some kind of partridge. They are NOT native and have perhaps been introduced for shooting... maybe.

The photo is definately good enough for an ID.

[gecko]

They are some kind of guinea fowl I think, probably feral. They are not a native bird, anyway

[Jason Green]

Gecko - yes, Helmeted Guinea Fowl Numida meleagris mitrata. They are known for running and can cover 20 miles a day. Birds like this often prefer to run than fly, hence the 'clumsy' way they take to the wing. They can live for 12 years and eat insects, seeds and leaves.

They are perhaps escapees?

[Bub-les]

agree they are Helmeted Guinea Fowl Numida meleagris mitrata saw plenty of them when I was on safari in Tanzania - native there but definitely not native in the UK!
Barbara

[aeshna5]

As others have said, Helmeted Guinea-fowl. Interestingly Doing the BTO BBS survey yesterday, this species is listed with it's code, so there must be a few feral birds out there- I did see one a couple of times in the Lea Valley some years ago.

[witham]

could they have 'escaped' from a wild life park or private breeder etc as Wallabies did years ago

[Lance Morgan]

Possibly but more likely they have been relased to wander around by the keeper. They return to the coop at dusk to roost. Similar to free range chickens.

[epops]

I had some a few years ago the flew off nested come back with 4 youngsters this continued for a couple of years till one day none returned and never saw them again

[Neon Heart]

Thanks all of you for solving my mystery! I've really enjoyed seeing these birds. They are living in a very small wood and I have seen them every time I have visited - 3 or 4 times in the last few weeks - so it's great to put a name to them.