- Tauraco corythaix
Identification
Length 40-47 cm (15¾-18½ in), mass 280-350 g.
Adult
- Red bill is short with a decurved upper mandible
- Brown eye with deep red eye ring, and is underlined with a white stripe
- Dark blue-green tail and wing coverts
- Bright red primary flight feathers (conspicuous in flight, but difficult to see on the folded wing)
- Tall, rounded crest, which is green, tipped white
Variations
Subspecies phoebus has a more intense dark blue gloss on the wings and back.
Similar Species
Similar to Livingstone's Turaco, which has a taller, pointed crest.
Distribution
Southern and eastern South Africa and northern eSwatini.
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.
Subspecies
Tauraco corythaix has two subspecies[1]:
- T. c. corythaix is from southern and south-eastern South Africa
- T. c. phoebus from north-western eSwatini and north-eastern South Africa
Habitat
They are to be found in forest, both coastal and inland at heights up to 1800 m.
Behaviour
Diet
They feed on fruit, insects and earthworms.
Breeding
The nest is a platform placed in leafy trees or dense creepers. One to three eggs are laid May to February.
Vocalisation
Call: is a harsh, deep barking woop, woop, woop, korr, korr, korr, korr, korr, korr, ..... (up to 14 notes).
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Knysna Turaco. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Knysna_Turaco
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
