Guineafowl: Numididae

These chicken-like birds weigh 1.5 to 3.5 pounds (0.7 to 1.6 kilograms) and measure 15.5 to 28.2 inches (40 to 72 centimeters) long. Their bills are short and their legs are strong. Some have small spurs on their legs, while others have a long, sharp spur on each leg. Still others have none at all. The tail is short and points downward. Some guineafowl have wattles that hang from the bottom of their bills. Males are generally larger than females.

Plumage (feathers) varies in color, from black with a brown wave design to black with white wavy lines or white spots. The head is usually bare for the most part, with small patches of feathers on some species. Skin color on the head varies.