Common Name: Red-crested Turaco Scientific Name: Tauraco erythrolophus
LEAST CONCERN Red-crested Turaco Distribution: Western Africa Habitat: Forest & Grassland Height: 47 - 50cm Weight: 450g Diet: Omnivorous
The turaco is a very colourful bird. The bill is yellow and the crest on the top of the head and the back of the neck is orange to red in colour. The are around the eye is white. The sides of the neck are yellow as is the front of the breast. The sides of the wings are orange to red in colour. The very top of the head is white in colour. Turacos are the only birds to be true red and green in colour. Most birds just appear to be those colours, it is a reflection produced by the feather structure. The turacos red pigment (turacin) and green pigment (turacoverdin) both contain copper, this gives them their true colouration. The turaco is found Western Africa from Angola to the Congo. They live in both forests and grasslands. They will eat a range for foods, from fruit, nuts, seeds and berries to invertebrates. These birds are monogamous (they mate for life), but are very sociable and live in flocks of up to 30 individuals. The males will feed the females during courtship and they build their nest together. They both incubate the eggs and care for their chicks. Other member of the group may also help to feed the chicks.