Glossy crested turaco
Glossy crested turaco | ||||||||||||
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![]() Glossy-crested turaco in Kwa Madwala wildlife park, South Africa |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Tauraco porphyreolophus | ||||||||||||
( Vigors , 1831) |
The Purple-Crested Turaco ( Tauraco porphyreolophus ) is a common in southern Africa Species from the family of turacos (Musophagidae).
shape
The glossy hooded turaco reaches a body length of approx. 40 centimeters. It is green in color and has a metallic blue color on the lower back and wings. The undersides of the wings are bright red. The long tail is bluish purple in color and has an almost rectangular end. The eyes are dark and surrounded by a red spot. The main difference between the bird and other turaco species is its purple crest, which appears black outside of direct sunlight, as well as the lack of a white eye spot. Compared to the similar feather helmet turaco ( Tauraco corythais ), this species appears darker and less green.
There is no such thing as gender dimorphism . Young birds have less distinct colors.
Way of life
The glossy-crested turaco is very shy and can often only be observed when it changes its seat and flies to another tree. The red undersides of the wings are noticeable in flight. It lives either in pairs or small groups and rarely flies in open terrain. He spends most of his time near trees. He is very nimble and can walk well in the branches and also jump from branch to branch. It feeds on fruits, young animals on insects , mussels and snails .
The pairing takes place between August and January. The nests are built at a height of around four meters. The females lay two to three eggs in it, which are incubated alternately by both parents for 22 to 25 days. The young can fly after about five weeks.
distribution and habitat
The glossy hooded turaco is widespread in the eastern part of southern Africa, especially in southern Mozambique and also in eastern South Africa and Zimbabwe and in Swaziland . Its habitat are dense forests and wooded areas along coasts and rivers.
Systematics
Two subspecies are distinguished within the species:
- Tauraco porphyreolophus chlorochlamys
- Tauraco porphyreolophus porphyreolophus
credentials
- ^ JC Sinclair, Ian Sinclair, PAR Hockey, and WR Tarboton: Birds of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers July 1997, ISBN 978-1-868-72033-0
Web links
- Gallirex porphyreolophus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on January 1 of 2009.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Tauraco porphyreolophus in the Internet Bird Collection