Turaco (family Musophagidae)

BirdAfricaFrugivore

Overview

Turacos (family Musophagidae) are colourful, crested fruit-eating birds found only in sub-Saharan Africa. The great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata), shown here, is the largest of the group — a striking blue bird with a tall black crest and a yellow-and-red bill. Beyond their beauty, turacos are biologically special: many possess two pigments,turacoverdin (green) and turacin (red), that are extremely rare among birds.

In most birds, green and red in the plumage come from feather structure or from diet-derived pigments; turacos are unusual in producing genuine green and red pigments of their own.

Note: the turaco family is varied (including the plainer go-away-birds and plantain-eaters); details here use the great blue turaco as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Turacos live across sub-Saharan Africa in habitats ranging from rainforest and montane forest to woodland and savanna, depending on the species. The great blue turaco favours tall tropical forest and forest edges, where it moves through the canopy in search of fruit. Forest species depend on healthy, connected woodland.

Diet

Turacos are mainly frugivores, eating a wide variety of fruits, and also taking leaves, buds, and flowers; some eat invertebrates at times. As they travel between fruiting trees, turacos swallow fruit and later pass the seeds, making them important seed dispersers that help regenerate African forests.

Behavior

Turacos are agile in the trees, running along branches and bounding through the canopy with their broad wings and long tails, though they tend to fly only in short bursts. They are often social, moving in pairs or family groups and giving loud, far-carrying calls — the related “go-away-birds” are named for their distinctive alarm call. The great blue turaco is a conspicuous, vocal presence in its forest home.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Turacos are admired for their colour and are important to their ecosystems as seed dispersers. Some larger species, including the great blue turaco, are hunted for meat and feathers in parts of their range, and forest species can be affected by habitat loss. Many turacos remain reasonably widespread. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the turaco