About the White-necked Rockfowl
The white-necked rockfowl is a medium-sized bird in the family Picathartidae, with a long neck and tail. Also known as the white-necked picathartes, this passerine is mainly found in rocky forested areas at higher altitudes in West Africa from Guinea to Ghana. Its distribution is patchy, with populations often being isolated from each other. The rockfowl typically chooses to live near streams and inselbergs. It has no recognized subspecies, though some believe that it forms a superspecies with the grey-necked rockfowl. The white-necked rockfowl has greyish-black upperparts and white underparts. Its unusually long, dark brown tail is used for balance, and its thighs are muscular. The head is nearly featherless, with the exposed skin being bright yellow except for two large, circular black patches located just behind the eyes. Though the bird is usually silent, some calls are known.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Rockfowl (Picathartidae) |
| Species | Picathartes gymnocephalus |
| Species Codes | whnroc1, WNRO |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the White-necked Rockfowl belong to?
The White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) belongs to the Rockfowl family (Picathartidae), in the order Passeriformes.
How can I identify the White-necked Rockfowl?
The white-necked rockfowl is a medium-sized bird in the family Picathartidae, with a long neck and tail. Also known as the white-necked picathartes, this passerine is mainly found in rocky forested areas at higher altitudes in West Africa from Guinea to Ghana. Its distribution is patchy, with popula...
Where can I report a White-necked Rockfowl sighting?
You can log sightings of White-necked Rockfowl on eBird (ebird.org) using species code whnroc1, or on iNaturalist.