Fun Facts!

In South Africa, Turaco feathers are said to have been the symbol of the Zulu king – he didn’t allow anyone else to wear the feathers.

Predators will get a mouthful of feathers if they attack, as the Turaco has the ability to release feathers when disturbed or threatened.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: If you hear this bird in the zoo, it has a loud cooroo-cooroo call which has led some ornithologists to classify the Turaco along with the cuckoo. Not so, bird anatomists tell us, after studying DNA strands; the two species are not related.

Violet Turaco

Musophaga violacea

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The Violet Turaco's plumage is primarily a glossy violet except for its thick red bill, yellow forehead and chestnut crown. In flight, Violet Turaco's crimson primary flight feathers contrast with the violet plumage. They range up to two feet in length with a long tail and short wings. Their coloring makes them striking but inconspicuous in their natural habitat.

HABITAT

They are arboreal, and are found in the forest treetops throughout tropical West Africa (except Sierra Leone). Generally seen in the lower mountain forests below 3,000 feet.

DIET IN THE WILD

They are omnivores who eat fruit, especially figs, and small seeds. They also eat some invertebrates and insects that they find in the trees.

BEHAVIOR

They are better runners than fliers and, while very active, they generally are a perching bird. They are social birds who move around in flocks, but they are shy and stay hidden in the trees.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Listed as Least Concern, but the species is being watched for extensive capture due to domestic trade.

LIFE SPAN

Violet Turacos typically live from five to ten years in the wild, and up to 30 years in captivity.