The dark grey body flecked with white, naked blue-and-red head and bare casque on the crown render this large gamebird unmistakable.
Male has a longer casque than female (casque size varies regionally). Juvenile resembles adult but has less developed casque on the crown, and browner body coloration with the white flecking enlarged on the neck feathering.
Grassland, broad-leaved woodland, thornveld and agricultural land.
A loud repeated 'krrdii-krrdii-krrdii-krrdii' and a 'kek-kek-kek-kek' alarm note.