We came across these birds on a walk through the fields at the back of our house …
At the risk of revealing that we are a pair of ignoramuses (the dictionary tells me that ignoramuses rather than ignorami is the correct plural - so much for my slog through Latin forty years ago!), can anyone tell us what they are? We've looked in our bird book here in the UK but our better guides are in France
The birds were really well camouflaged against a frost covered gravel pile.
Perhaps we are more used to seeing them plucked and oven-ready...
Your last guess is correct - they are guineafowl - presumably on the run.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, they look just like the ones in the book ... :o)
DeleteYes we agree they are Guineafowl. There is a farmer just up the road from where we live who rears them for the oven. They look very strange running in a very big group.
ReplyDeleteThey were actually fairly big birds and for some reason I expected them to be much smaller. I have eaten guineafowl before but never seen them in their feathered state!
DeleteIf they are being reared for the oven I do not blame them for running away.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, Guinea Fowl -- delish! Now if I had been guessing at the plural for ignoramus I would have said ignoramus was also the plural -- so much for what I know!
ReplyDeleteThese 'funny' plurals ate there to confuse, but I did look this one up. However different websites give different plurals, although the majority go with ignoramuses!
DeleteI also agree Guineafowl. They are wild in South Africa but guess these are ones from a domestic stock in the UK. Diane
ReplyDeleteAre the wild ones bigger, I wonder?
DeleteNice and plump guinea fowl!
ReplyDeleteTasty ...
DeleteHi Gay
ReplyDeleteYou may remember we had their legs 'farcied' and wrapped in jambon cru as the main course for the meal we did to celebrate Karine's wedding?
They were delicious and I'm hoping the Traiteur can come up with something equally tasty for my anniversaire celebrations in April!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI can't remember what 'farcied' means. I'll look it up.
Looks like it could be a tasty celebration. We are looking forward to it...
Stuffed! French name is Pintad. They've got these up at Limouzin Freres Goatery and they do sell them, ready to roast from their little camionette on GP market... they seem to have very little brain [the pintads that is]... and make a lot of noise. You've got enough here with your nearby gooses... keep well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim,
ReplyDeleteWe'll look out for the stuffed variety when we visit in April!