What Is the Difference Between Male and Female Guinea Birds?

Guinea birds are more often known as guinea fowl, and they have large plump bodies topped with featherless heads. They typically eat seeds but will also eat the insects. If you plan to breed guinea fowl, determining the difference between males and females of this species is an invaluable ability. Being able to sex these birds allows you to make the right decision when deciding whether to add to your flock.

  1. Call

    • Both male and female guinea fowl make noise, but the male has a single-syllable call which sounds as though they are saying "wheat", while the female has a double-syllable call that sounds like "buck-wheat." Both sexes have a rapid staccato pattern to their call, similar to a machine gun sound, which can make them difficult to tell apart.

    Wattles

    • The wattles are the loose flaps of skin hanging down from the guinea fowl's chin. The wattles of males are typically larger that those of females. The wattles of the males also have a round, cupped shape, whereas the wattles of the female hang flat. In most guinea fowl, the wattles are brightly colored and easy to see even from a distance.

    Helmet

    • The helmet is a bony growth on top of the guinea fowl's head. In males, the helmet is larger and more pronounced than in the female. The helmet is not a pronounced protrusion from the bird's head and requires close inspection to avoid mistaking a male for a female at a distance.

    Shape

    • Male guinea fowls tend to have large bodies that are heavier than those of the females. The females on the whole tend to be smaller and more delicately built. The way that the guinea fowl is standing can also provide a clue. Females have a posture is slightly crouched, putting them closer to the ground; males have a more upright posture.