A turkey-like bird with a vulture's head, the vulturine guineafowl makes its home in the dry grasslands of northeast Africa. It gleans enough water from the vegetation in its diet that it can survive with virtually no drinking water.

Both sexes sport striking bright blue plumage and white streaks and dots on their back and wing feathers. It can be difficult to tell the sexes apart except for the extra aggression demonstrated by the males.