Turacos

Turacos are uniquely African, with 23 species recognised by most authorities. The forest-living species are undoubtedly among the most spectacularly colourful of birds, while the savanna-dwellers (known as "go-away birds") are predominantly grey in plumage. In South Africa, these birds are better known as louries. All are frugivores, specialising in fruit (particularly figs) and sometimes feeding on leaves, buds and flowers. They are usually gregarious, and frequently associate with Green Pigeons, parrots, hornbills and barbets, with individuals and groups often returning day after day to the same fruiting tree, until the crop is exhausted.

Plumes Fit for a King

All turacos have a rather weak and floppy flight, and prefer to climb through foliage to high points and then launch themselves to another tree. They are very agile when running and hopping along branches, no doubt aided by having mobile outer toes, which can point forward or backward. The woodland and forest-dwellers all have startling crimson-red primary feathers, which are highly conspicuous in flight and are important signals for other flock members. These beautiful feathers are held in high esteem by many African societies, although only the most important individuals (such as chiefs and kings) wear them in ceremonial dress.

Remarkable Pigments

The red wing feathers and the green plumage of the upper and underparts of turacos contain copper-containing pigments - unique in the whole of the animal kingdom. These pigments are named turacin (for the red) and turcoverdin (for the green). Many forest dwellers also have red eye-wattles and distinctive facial patterns which no doubt play a role in display or mate recognition, although the sexes show no external differences.

Ain't No Nightingales!

Few birds have such harsh and unattractive calls, with croaks and barks being the most apt vocal description for most turacos. Groups of Ross's Turaco - among others - may whip themselves up into a cackling frenzy with gruff echoes through their forest environment.

The go-away birds typical of more open acacia savanna derive their name from the rasping "gaa-wayrrr" cry which is sounded both as a contact call and when alarmed. Any human - benign bird-watcher included - is greeted with such sounds by the common Grey Lourie or Bare-faced Go-away Bird, and game hunters are often frustrated when their quarry reacts to this alarm call by fleeing.

Conservation

Savanna-living go-away birds are not threatened in any way and are typically very numerous in mixed acacia savanna. The forest-dwelling turacos are, on the other hand, at risk to deforestation and to illegal trapping for the captive bird trade. The highly endangered Bannerman's Turaco of Mount Oku in Cameroon is the subject of a BirdLife International conservation project, which involves the local people as eco-tourist guides. These people have long idolised the turaco as a symbol in their dance and dress, but were nevertheless destroying the forest habitat for timber.

Where to See Turacos at CCAfrica Lodges

The magnificent Schalow's Turaco, with its extravagant floppy crest, occurs in forest at Matetsi Game Lodges in Zimbabwe, Kichwa Tembo in Kenya and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. It is most often found by listening out for its rasping call. The spectacular blue, red and yellow Ross's Turaco is also present at Kichwa Tembo (often in the company of the former species) and is also seen occasionally at Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp in the western Serengeti. Another infrequent visitor to Grumeti is the Eastern Grey Plantain-eater - a large member of the go-away bird tribe - which becomes more common in the immediate vicinity of Lake Victoria where it raids banana and plantain orchards.

The striking Purple-crested Turaco occurs in riverine forest at South Africa's Phinda Private Game Reserve and Londolozi Private Game Reserve as well as on rocky hillsides of Bongani Mountain Lodge.

The Grey Lourie is an abundant savanna resident at Ngala Game Lodge, Londolozi Private Game Reserve. It is also abundant at Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge and Nxabega Okavango Safari Camp, both in Botswana. Its East African counterpart - the Bare-faced Go-away Bird, is most readily seen at Klein's Camp in Tanzania.

Keen birders staying at Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa have a chance of seeing the Livingstone's Turaco in the Maputaland coastal forests, which can be reached on an Indian Ocean excursion.

Posted: Birds by CC Africa, Date: 21 November 2006