#musophagiformes

[herpsandbirds]

Knysna Turaco (Tauraco corythaix) EAT A TASTY BERRY!!!, family Musophagidae, order Musophagiformes, South Africa

photograph by Andrew Vickers

[birdblues]

Ross's Turaco

[snototter]

A green turaco (Tauraco persa) perches in a tree in Makasutu, Gambia

by Gary Faulkner

[worldsandemanations]

Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata), family Musophagidae, order Musophagiformes, photograph by Will Wilson

[ospreyenjoyer]

I love you Accipitriformes I love you Falconiformes I love you Strigiformes I love you Caprimulgiformes I love you Otidiformes I love you Pterocliformes I love you Galliformes I love you Anseriformes I love you Sphenisciformes I love you Charadriiformes I love you Suliformes I love you Phaethontiformes I love you Pelecaniformes I love you Ciconiiformes I love you Gruiformes I love you Phoenicopteriformes I love you Podicipediformes I love you Gaviiformes I love you Ratites I love you Cuculiformes I love you Musophagiformes I love you Columbiformes I love you Apodiformes I love you Coraciiformes I love you Piciformes I love you Bucerotiformes I love you Coliiformes I love you Passeriformes I love you Leptosomiformes I love you Psittaciformes I love you Chiroptera I love you Eulipotyphla I love you Monotremata I love you Lagomorpha I love you Rodentia I love you Scandentia I love you Primatomorpha I love you Artiodactyla I love you Perissodactyla I love you Carnivora I love you Didelphimorphia I love you Pilosa I love you Diprotodontia I love you Peramelemorphia I love you Dasyuromorphia I love you Afrosoricida I love you Dermoptera I love you Pholidota I love you Sirenia I love you Hyracoidea I love you Crocodilia I love you Testudines love you Squamata I love you Rhynchocephalia I love you Anura I love you Urodela I love you Gymnophiona

[fascinator-birds]

Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi)

© Michel Gutierrez

[flight-freeze-frame]

Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus)

© Daniel Field

[shiny-and-sparkling-birds]

Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus)

© Gerald Friesen

[birds-that-screm]

Yellow-billed Turaco (Tauraco macrorhynchus)

© Francesco Veronesi

[herpsandbirds]

Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator), family Musophagidae, order Musophagiformes, Gambia

photograph by Cristophe Moning

[birdblues]

Purple-crested Turaco

[birds-mid-noms]

Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus)

© Eric van Poppel

[hello-birdies]

Tauraco livingstonii by Lawrence Neo

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Violet Taco Turaco

Do you like plantains? The Violet Turaco (Musophaga violacea) doesn’t, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming known as the plantain eater! These gorgeous birds are native to a wide range in the tropical forests of West Africa. Their coloration comes from a special pigment called ‘turcoverdin’, which is unique to the turaco group. Despite their brilliant plumage, you’re unlikely to see much of them-- they’re incredibly shy, and often reside high in the trees where they can feed on their usual diet of fruit and figs. As Turacos go, they’re some of the largest, ranging from 12-14 ounces and flaunting a length of a whopping 21-24 inches (including the tail). They also live fairly long lives; up to thirty years in captivity. They typically live in small flocks but nest in solitary, monagamous pairs. Each pair produces 2 eggs, and the chicks that hatch grow quickly. Within a few days they’re can leave the nest and climb from branch to branch using specialized claws. Within 4-5 weeks they’re able to fly. Most adults, however, prefer to run along the branches and only fly in short bursts.

Conservation status: Although the Violet Turaco is captured for trade in several of its native countries, the population as a whole is stable.

[thalassarche]

Grey Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor) - photo by Leon Molenaar

“Go-away-birds” are so named for the call of the Grey Go-away-bird, which sounds like “g’way” or “kweh.”

[fascinator-birds]

Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi)

© Mark Piazzi