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.

[Pete Collins]

I don't know about feral ones, but domesticated helmeted guinea fowl seem to be quite popular, I've come across them at several farms and remote houses now. I think they're used a bit like guard dogs, as they make quite a racket when disturbed - I found this story about them:

Fowl play afoot - send for the bill - Telegraph

[Neon Heart]

Thanks for the article Pete. How fascinating. These are definitley the same birds. The ones I see would make terrible guards though - they are very calm and don't panic at all when they see me. They haven't made any noise so far. Maybe these have been well domesticated?!

[Pete Collins]

I must admit, I've only had them make a noise when I've approached on one occasion (at a farm north of Olney, Bucks.). All the other times I've seen them, they've just quietly walked or run off.

That time they did make a noise, though, it was quite a racket! It would certainly get anybody's attention.

[coasty]

They are certainly good alarm bells. In fact they can make a absolute racket when startled, Unlikely that they were released for shooting more likely just feral....Make good eating..