Some of the flock near Tercero and The Dairy
The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is the best known of the guineafowl bird family, Numididae, and the only member of the genus Numida. It breeds in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara, and has been widely introduced into the West Indies and southern France.
And Davis, the multicultural town that it is, has a flock as well. They can range extensively, but have been seen around the south-west part of campus.
'2008-03-15 19:41:40 There is a flock of at least 11 large chicken-like birds (but more like goose-sized) wandering around campus near the Arboretum. Black and white feathers in sort of a herringbone tweed. Anybody know what they are? I saw the peahen hanging out with them, but I really doubt they're peafowl.
2008-03-15 19:54:44 The Enterprise reported that, indeed, they were peacocks. —ScottLay
2008-03-16 01:10:45 Sounds more like peahens. Peacocks are males with very long trains of feathers. —JimEvans
2008-03-16 09:54:07 Perhaps Guineafowl? They are chicken-like, spotted, smaller than peafowl. —DavidFeliz
2008-03-18 13:07:59 Guineafowl! Thank you, David. Yes, after checking out pictures on the Web, the birds I'm seeing around are almost certainly "Helmeted Guineafowl". I saw twelve of them, with the peahen, yesterday morning. Probably the Enterprise, like me, was confused by the fact that the peahen is hanging out with them. I think flocking birds sometimes flock with other species if they can't flock with their own. Poor peahen. —Prof.Spice
2008-04-08 19:21:07 I heard a couple professors talking about the Guineafowl and they think that someone just dumped them here after Winter Break. —lynzeer89
2008-07-14 16:38:43 I was wondering what the heck these things were... —JoePomidor
2013-05-06 10:46:04 What's the word? They still running around? —CarlosOverstreet
Comments: A flock of five Guineafowl were left at the Davis Cemetery District about five years ago. Now there is only one survivor and he has been adopted by the Cemetery turkey flock. You will often see her pecking at pinwheels and trying to keep up with the turkeys.
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