Knysna turaco

Knysna turaco
Pair
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Musophagiformes
Family:	Musophagidae
Genus:	Tauraco
Species:	T. corythaix
Binomial name
Tauraco corythaix (Wagler, 1827)
Range of the Knysna turaco: subspp. corythaix (south) and phoebus (north)

The Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix), or, in South Africa, Knysna lourie, is a large turaco, one of a group of African near-passerine birds. It is a resident breeder in the mature evergreen forests of southern and eastern South Africa, and Swaziland. It was formerly sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the green turaco of West Africa. The Livingstone's and Schalow's turacos were once considered subspecies.^[2]

This species lays two eggs in a shallow platform nest made from sticks and placed in a tree or clump of creepers.

Within its range, this is an unmistakable bird, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. It is 40–42 cm long, including a long tail. The small but thick orange-red bill and a white line just under the eye contrast with the mainly green plumage. It has a tall green crest, which is tipped with white. The eye is brown and the eye-ring deep red. In flight, Knysna turaco shows conspicuous crimson primary flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but juvenile birds have a shorter crest without the white tips.

The Knysna turaco is usually seen flying between forest trees, or hopping along branches. It feeds on fruit, insects and earthworms. It has a loud kow-kow-kow-kow call.

Images

• 

  At Birds of Eden, in the Eastern Cape

• 

  At Knysna, in the Western Cape

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  The vivid plumage is still an effective camouflage in its native habitat

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  Eggs of Tauraco corythaix MHNT

References

• Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN 1-86872-721-1

External links

• Knysna turaco - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.

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