- Tauraco corythaix
Identification
Length 40-47 cm, mass 280-350 g.
Adult: The red bill is short with a decurved upper mandible. The eye is brown with deep red eye ring, and is underlined with a white stripe. It has a dark blue-green tail and the wing coverts. The primary flight feathers are bright red, conspicuous in flight, but difficult to see on the folded wing. It has a tall, rounded crest, which is green, tipped white.
Similar Species
Similar to Livingstone's Turaco, which has a taller, pointed crest.
Distribution
Southern and eastern South Africa and northern Swaziland.
Taxonomy
The Knysna Turaco, Livingstone's Turaco and Schalow's Turaco (the green Turacos of southern Africa) were previously regarded as conspecific. However, their treatment as separate species is supported by morphological, vocal and molecular evidence.
Tauraco corythaix has two subspecies:
- T. c. corythaix is from southern and south-eastern South Africa
- T. c. phoebus from north-western Swaziland and north-eastern South Africa, which is a more intense dark blue gloss on the wings and back.
Habitat
Forests
Behaviour
- It feeds on fruit, insects and earthworms.
- Its nest is a platform placed in leafy trees or dense creepers. One to three eggs are laid May to February.
- The call is a harsh, deep barking woop, woop, woop, korr, korr, korr, korr, korr, korr, ..... (up to 14 notes).
References
Claassens A & Marais E. 2008. Species information page - Knysna Turaco (Lourie). SASOL Bird e-Guide. www.birdlife.org.za/fieldguide. Downloaded 25 January 2008.
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
