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Helmeted Guinea Fowl Color Chart

Helmeted Guinea Fowl Colors
(Numida meleagris)


Color Varieties varying from Fully Pearled (spotted),
Semi Pearled, Faintly Pearled, to Solid.

Research is updating our information about guinea fowl Color Families and Spotting Patterns, and breeders are developing new color categories. This Color Chart does not represent all of the feathering patterns that may be possible. A more comprehensive Color Chart is currently being developed and will be posted on this site at a later date.

Three Colors* Recognized in the Standard of Perfection for Showing Guinea Fowl

Click on each image to enlarge.
Larger image will open in a new window.

 

Fully Pearled

Semi Pearled

Faintly Pearled (Fully
Pearled Attenuate)

Solid (Semi
Pearled Attenuate)

Pearl Gray*

Original color of guineas - Dark gray background with white pearling on entire body

Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl

Royal Purple

Very dark color with purplish look in the sun - Pearling on lower wings and flanks - Semi-spotted

Royal Purple Guinea Fowl

Slate

Steel gray color with cream highlights over shoulders/back - Faint pearling

Slate Guinea Fowl

Violet

Dark solid color - Sun brings out the violet sheen - Similar to Royal Purple without pearling

Violet Guinea Fowl

Violet Guinea Fowl

 

Bronze

Variance of Royal Purple - Black color with bronze cast over shoulders, back, neck and chest - Reddish color on primary wing feathers - Semi-spotted

Bronze Guinea Fowl

 

Copper

Violet base color with coppery look similar to bronze sheen of Bronze - Especially brought out in sunlight - No pearling

Copper Guinea Fowl

Brown

Pearling is quite bold with dark brown areas mixed with light tan color of body - Fully spotted

Brown Guinea Fowl

Chocolate

Similar to Brown displaying less pearling - Brown color in more patches

Chocolate Guinea Fowl

Pewter

Pewter gray color - Sometimes streaky - Faint pearling

Pewter Guinea Fowl  

Cinnamon

Paler than Brown but deeper than Buff Dundotte - Fully spotted

Cinnamon Guinea Fowl


Blonde

Soft brown color - Lighter than Chocolate but deeper than Buff - Semi-spotted

Blonde Guinea Fowl


Smokey

Description to come - Faint pearling

Smokey Guinea Fowl


Pastel

Same base color as Pewter but with a tan tint instead of the gray tone - No pearling

Pastel Guinea Fowl

Buff Dundotte

Soft tan color with pearling over entire body - Females darker than males

Buff Dundotte Guinea Fowl

Buff

Soft tan color all over varying from near white to light tan - Females darker than males - Semi-spotted

Buff Guinea Fowl

Ivory

Color between buff and white - Faint pearling

Ivory Guinea Fowl

 

Lavender*

Steel gray or lavender color with pearling over entire body as in Pearl Gray

Lavender Guinea Fowl


Coral Blue

Soft blue color with air-brushed blue around edges of feathers - Semi-spotted

Coral Blue Guinea Fowl

Powder Blue

Light blue color - Faint pearling

Powder Blue Guinea Fowl

Sky Blue

Same soft blue color as Coral Blue but without any pearling

Sky Blue Guinea Fowl

Lite Lavender

Light variance of Lavender - Color right between Lavender and Porcelain - Fully spotted

Lite Lavender Guinea Fowl

Lite Coral

Light variance of Coral Blue - Color right between Coral Blue and Opaline - Light cranial skin - Semi-spotted

Lite Coral Guinea Fowl

Lite Powder

Light variance of Powder Blue - Faint pearling - New color - Not yet commercially available

Lite Sky

Light variance of Sky Blue - No pearling - New color - Not yet commercially available

Porcelain

Variance of Lavender - Very pale pastel blue with white pearling over most of body

Porcelain Guinea Fowl

Opaline

Near-white color with pale icy blue cast - Very faint pearling on wings and flanks - Light cranial skin - Semi-spotted

Opaline Guinea Fowl    

 

 

Pied

Pied Pearl Gray (pictured) is usual color of Pied sold by hatcheries - Any color can be pied

Pied Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl

Pinto

Description to come

White*

Solid white color - No pearling

White Guinea Fowl

 

 

 

 

Guinea Fowl Keet Colors

Trying to decide what color keets you have? Give them time to dry and fluff and just look at the top of their heads. There are four main groups to narrow this ID down: Fully Pearled, Semi Pearled, Faintly Pearled, and Solid. Fully Pearled means spots appear over the entire body as your keet matures into an adult guinea. Semi Pearled is just that, usually spots on parts of lower wings and flanks as adults. Faintly Pearled adults have hard-to-see very faint spots. Solid is void of any markings. Remember the head is where to start; then check the body, belly and wing colors. A description of the keet head markings for each group can be found in the column headings. There is another group that can be found with any color, Pied, which means white feathers varying in different amounts and areas ranging from a few feathers on the chest to full white chest and wings. Any color variety can be "pied" with white feathering.

 

 

 

 

 

Key to Guinea Fowl Keet Colors

Upper pictures in each box are older keets feathering out showing pearling or solid colors. On most, head markings are still visible.

Click here for some identification tips.

 

 

 

 

Fully Pearled

Head marked with one broad stripe, two smaller on each side

Semi Pearled

Head marked with irregular lines/stripes

Faintly Pearled (Fully
Pearled Attenuate)

Head solid color/no stripes

Solid (Semi
Pearled Attenuate)

Head solid color/no stripes

 

Pearl Gray

Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Keet

Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Keet

Brown striped body with darker broad stripe on head, smaller on each side - Notice signs of full pearling on older keet

 

Royal Purple

Royal Purple Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Royal Purple Guinea Fowl Keets

Royal Purple Guinea Fowl Keets

Brown striped body with white on face, wings and belly

 

Slate


Older Keet

Slate Guinea Fowl Keet

Slate Guinea Fowl Keet

Dark rust colored body with some white on belly and throat

 

Violet

Violet Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Violet Guinea Fowl Keets

Violet Guinea Fowl Keet

Rusty colored body with white face, wings and belly

   

Bronze

Bronze Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Bronze Guinea Fowl Keet

Bronze Guinea Fowl Keet

Very similar to above Royal Purple keet - May have rusty tinge on wing

   

Copper


Older Keet

Copper Guinea Fowl Keet

Copper Guinea Fowl Keet

Very similar to Pastel and Pewter keets but color on head is a much brighter copper color (like a new penny) - Will feather out a lighter version of Violet

 

Brown

Brown Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Brown Guinea Fowl Keet

Brown Guinea Fowl Keet

Strongly resembles Pearl Gray keet but a lighter, faded appearance

 

Chocolate

Chocolate Guinea Fowl Older Keets
Older Keets

Chocolate Guinea Fowl Keets

Royal Purple Keet and Chocolate Guinea Fowl Keet

Body light shades of brown with white face, wings and belly

 

Pewter

Pewter Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Pewter Guinea Fowl Keet

Pewter Guinea Fowl Keet

Solid rust colored body - Lighter than Slate keet

 
 

Cinnamon


Older Keet


 

Description to come

 

Blonde


Older Keet

Blonde Guinea Fowl Keet

Blonde Guinea Fowl Keet

Similar markings but lighter version of Chocolate keet

 

Smokey


Older Keet


 

Description to come

 

Pastel

Pastel Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Pastel Guinea Fowl Keet

Pastel Guinea Fowl Keet

Similar solid rust color as Pewter keet but with much more white on belly and wings

 

Buff Dundotte


Older Keet

Buff Dundotte Guinea Fowl Keet

Buff Dundotte Guinea Fowl Keets

Very light tan colored body with dark tan broad stripe on head and two smaller on each side - Tan stripes on back

 

Buff

Buff Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Buff Guinea Fowl Keet

Buff Guinea Fowl Keet

Near-white colored body with irregular light tan stripes on head and back - Females darker than males

 

Ivory


Older Keet

Ivory Guinea Fowl Keet

Ivory Guinea Fowl Keet

Description to come

 
 

Lavender

Lavender Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Lavender Guinea Fowl Keets

Lavender Guinea Fowl Keet

Light lavender color with markings same as Pearl Gray keet

 

Coral blue

Coral Blue Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Coral Blue Guinea Fowl Keets

Coral Blue Guinea Fowl Keet

Light blue color body with white on wings, face and belly - Notice beginning of partial pearling on older keet

 

Powder Blue


Older Keet

Powder Blue Guinea Fowl Keet

Powder Blue Guinea Fowl Keet
 

Solid pewter or gray-blue color

 

Sky Blue

Sky Blue Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Light blue color with white on face, belly and wings

 

Lite Lavender

Lite Lavender Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Lite Lavender Guinea Fowl Keet

Lite Lavender Guinea Fowl Keet

Similar markings but lighter version of Lavender keet

 

Lite Coral

Lite Coral Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Lite Blue Guinea Fowl Keet

Lite Blue Guinea Fowl Keet

Pewter or gray-blue body with irregular stripes on head - Some white on wings and belly

 

Lite Powder


Older Keet


 

Description to come

 

Lite Sky


Older Keet


 

Description to come

 

Porcelain


Older Keet

Porcelain Guinea Fowl Keet

Porcelain Guinea Fowl Keet

Off-white colored body with very pale gray-blue broad and narrow stripes on head and back

 

Opaline

Opaline Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

Opaline Guinea Fowl Keet

Opaline Guinea Fowl Keet

Mostly white body with faint color on head that might appear pale blue or pale gold - Fainter color on back

   

 

 

 

 

Pied

 

See guide to Pied Keet Colors below

 

Pinto


Older Keet


 

Description to come

 

White

White Guinea Fowl Older Keet
Older Keet

White Guinea Fowl Keet

White Guinea Fowl Keets

Pure white - Sometimes has a black dot on top or back of head - These birds are not albino and are the only solid white bird that hatches solid white and not yellow

 

 

 

Here are some identification tips:

 

 


Comparison between Lavender (on left) and two Coral Blue - VERY close except for HEADS - REMEMBER, broad stripe with smaller will be fully pearled while broken will be semi pearled

Male and Female Buff Guinea Fowl Keets

Comparison between male and female Buff keets - Note that the female (on the right) is darker than the male

Two darker keets...Looking Pied Brown, Pied Chocolate

Comparison between Violet, Copper, Pewter, and Pastel




Upper keet feathers as a Pearl Gray - Another combination that results in pearl feathering is shown in lower picture with dark, solid feathering and what looks like a widow's peak

Two pictures on the top right are the darker keets in basket - One has irregular stripes and the other has one broad stripe - Both appear to be Pied

Light keet in basket is pictured below - Doesn't look Pied but VERY light with partial pearling

 

 

 

Pied Guinea Fowl Keet Colors

Pied keets come in all the different colors. Remember the basic head markings and identify the color. Then think about the extra white on their chests, parts of wings or full wings, which makes them Pied. Pied keets may be harder to ID when very young. As they start to feather, you will notice what is going to stay white on their chests and wings.

 

 

 

 

 

Key to Pied Guinea Fowl Keet Colors

Upper pictures in each box are pied adult guineas.

 

 

 

These first three pied varieties will be fully pearled when mature:

 

 

Pied Pearl Gray

Pied Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl

Same as above Pearl Gray keet ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

 

Pied Lavender

Pied Lavender Guinea Fowl Pied Lavender Guinea Fowl

Same as above Lavender keet ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

 

Pied Brown

Pied Brown Guinea Fowl

Same as above Brown keet ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

Pied Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Keet Pied Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Older Keet Pied Lavender Guinea Fowl Keet and Lavender Keet

Keet on left side is Pied Lavender - Compare to keet on right side that is Lavender without the white pied markings

Pied Brown Guinea Fowl Keets Pied Brown Guinea Fowl Older Keet

 

These three colors will be semi pearled when mature:

 

 

Pied Chocolate

Pied Chocolate Guinea Fowl

Same as above Chocolate keet ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

 

Pied Royal Purple

Pied Royal Purple Guinea Fowl

Same as above Royal Purple keet ALONG WITH additional white on chest and/or wings - Keets in lower left picture are all Royal Purple - Right side with more white is Pied Royal Purple

 

Pied Coral Blue

Same as above Coral Blue keet ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

 

Pied Chocolate Guinea Fowl Keet Pied Chocolate Guinea Fowl Older Keet Pied Royal Purple Guinea Fowl Keets Pied Royal Purple Guinea Fowl Older Keet Pied Coral Blue Guinea Fowl Older Keet Pied Coral Blue Guinea Fowl Older Keet

 

These colors will be faintly pearled when mature:

 

 

Pied Slate

Pied Slate Guinea Fowl

Same as above Slate keet ALONG WITH additional white on chest and/or wings

 

Pied Powder Blue

Solid light pewter color ALONG WITH any degree of white on chest and/or wings

Pied Slate Guinea Fowl Older Keet Pied Powder Blue Guinea Fowl Keet

 

These colors will be solid when mature:

 

 

Pied Sky Blue

Same as above Sky Blue keet ALONG WITH additional white on chest and/or wings

Pied Sky Blue Guinea Fowl Older Keet

 

 

If you have an adult or keet picture of a color variety that is not yet displayed, you may email it to us or send it to the address on our Contact Us page. We would be happy to consider your photo(s) for inclusion in this chart.

 

 

 

Thanks to Brenda (brenTx) for her invaluable help with our original color chart.