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

• 

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

• 

  Eggs of Tauraco corythaix MHNT

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Tauraco corythaix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
2. Roberts 6

• 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.