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Vulturine Guineafowl


Vulturine Guineafowl
Photo Information
Copyright: Eyal Bartov (bartove) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 178 W: 1 N: 588] (7772)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40 D, Canon EF100-400 IS
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-03-18 12:00
Viewed: 5240
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) is the largest and most spectacular of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and is the only member of the genus Acryllium. It is a resident breeder in northeast Africa, from southern Ethiopia through Kenya and just into northern Tanzania.
It breeds in dry and open habitats with scattered bushes and trees, such as savannah or grassland. It lays its usually 4-8 cream-coloured eggs in a well-hidden grass-lined scrape.


Close-up of the head
Vulturine Guineafowl is a large (61-71cm) bird with a round body and small head. It is longer in the neck, legs and tail than other guineafowl. The adult has a bare blue face and black neck, and although all other guineafowl have unfeathered heads, this species looks particularly like a vulture because of the long bare neck and head.
The slim neck projects from a cape of long, glossy, blue and white hackles. The breast is cobalt blue, and the rest of the body plumage is black, finely spangled with white. The wings are short and rounded, and the tail is longer than others in the family Numididae.
The sexes are similar, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male and with smaller tarsal spurs. Young birds are mainly grey-brown, with a duller blue breast and short hackles.
Vulturine Guineafowl is a gregarious species, forming flocks outside the breeding season typically of about 25 birds. This species' food is seeds and small invertebrates. This guineafowl is terrestrial, and will run rather than fly when alarmed. Despite the open habitat, it tends to keep to cover, and roosts in trees. It makes loud chink-chink-chink-chink-chink calls.

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rousettus, dkaved, valy67, LordPotty, goutham_ramesh, Suzy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-03-18 12:34]

Hello Eyal,
That you could come so close to this guineafowl. I've got a photo on TN from Ethiopia of these birds, but from a certain distance.
The sharpness and details are really fantastic. Splendid beautiful colours and an excellent low POV and OOF BG.
One of the best photos of a Vulturine Guineafowl I've ever seen.
Regards,
Peter

hello Eyal
wonderful capture for lovely Guineafowl. great focus, POV, composition and colors. lighting and exposure also great. thanks for sharing, well done
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • dkaved Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 259 W: 17 N: 431] (2114)
  • [2009-03-18 13:14]

Hi Eyal,
I've noticed that a lot of your bird images are caught in arid landscapes and the neutral surroundings really make your subjects stand out. This is a perfect example.....a lovely speciman. That blue plumage and red eye a joy to the eye. Erev Tove!
Regards, David

great portriat, dash Ori

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
  • [2009-03-18 14:33]

Hello Eyal !
I don't know if this bird is beautiful or not - magnificent plumage, but strange head... But I like his big red eye... Anyways, the picture looks fantastic, I love all the details, the natural colors, the pose of the bird, the composition and POV. The Guineafowl stands out very nicely on the orange BG. Very well done !
Valérie.

Hi Eyal,
This is such an amazing looking Guineafowl.
Those dark colours and bright patterned plumage are very striking.
I have never seen this fantastic species before.
Thanks for showing it to us.
Excellent notes too.
Cheers
Steve

Nature's creation is wonderful and this looks like a mixture of a vulture and a fowl. The picture has been shot well and the presentation is also good. A little more directional space would have done wonders.

  • Great 
  • Suzy Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 16] (101)
  • [2009-03-18 22:53]

magnificient composition! I like the colors and the details.. what a small head comparing with the body! excellent sharp and frame!
thx Eyal and good day:)

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