Eastern tropical Africa in dry grassland and scrub plain dotted with tall trees. Uses is powerful beak and claws to scratch and dig for seeds, roots, tubers, grubs, and will catch rodents, small reptiles, and crawling insects. Browses on some vegetation and fruits. Very inquisitive and bold.
Small parties forage over the plains in loose flocks.
Often found in the company of hoof stock collecting from the spoils of the churned-up earth. Prefers to roost high in trees at night. Calls can be heard over long distances and they utter them when disturbed, excited, or to call together the flock at evening. Guineas are both monomorphic and monochromatic and the behavior of both sexes is so similar as not to be helpful in distinguishing males from females. 13-18 creamy white eggs are laid in a scrap in a grass clump.