1-4-2018 EDEN PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - HARTLAUB'S TURACO (Tauraco hartlaubi)

Hartlaub's turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi ) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub.

A beautiful green turaco with dark blue wings, tail, and crown. Note the white markings on the head: a white spot in front of the eye and a white line below the eye. Like all turacos, shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in montane forests, lush woodlands, and gardens. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Similar overall to other turacos, but separated from most by the dark blue crown, and from Purple-crested Turaco by the white facial markings. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes.

Distribution is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

Diet is Fruits and berries (some of which are extremely poisonous to humans) sometimes caterpillars, moths and beetles.

Habitat:  Montane evergreen forest , well-timbered suburban gardens  

Incubation: 16-18 days, 1-2 eggs

Social structure: forage in groups of up to 20 birds, monogamous pairs during breeding season 

Weight: max 270g, Dimensions:  max 43 cm

Estimated population in the wild: Unknown, fairly common.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Threats:  There are no major threats for this species.

Their vivid plumage is a product of two unique copper pigments, unknown in any other bird family, or in any other animal group.

Turacos are poor flyers but are expert climbers, skipping nimbly from branch to branch, and moving from tree to tree by gliding or with a few fast wing beats.

1-4-2018 EDEN PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - HARTLAUB'S TURACO (Tauraco hartlaubi)

Hartlaub's turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi ) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub.

A beautiful green turaco with dark blue wings, tail, and crown. Note the white markings on the head: a white spot in front of the eye and a white line below the eye. Like all turacos, shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in montane forests, lush woodlands, and gardens. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Similar overall to other turacos, but separated from most by the dark blue crown, and from Purple-crested Turaco by the white facial markings. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes.

Distribution is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

Diet is Fruits and berries (some of which are extremely poisonous to humans) sometimes caterpillars, moths and beetles.

Habitat:  Montane evergreen forest , well-timbered suburban gardens  

Incubation: 16-18 days, 1-2 eggs

Social structure: forage in groups of up to 20 birds, monogamous pairs during breeding season 

Weight: max 270g, Dimensions:  max 43 cm

Estimated population in the wild: Unknown, fairly common.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Threats:  There are no major threats for this species.

Their vivid plumage is a product of two unique copper pigments, unknown in any other bird family, or in any other animal group.

Turacos are poor flyers but are expert climbers, skipping nimbly from branch to branch, and moving from tree to tree by gliding or with a few fast wing beats.

1-4-2018 PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - HARTLAUB'S TURACO (Tauraco hartlaubi)

Hartlaub's turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi ) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub.

A beautiful green turaco with dark blue wings, tail, and crown. Note the white markings on the head: a white spot in front of the eye and a white line below the eye. Like all turacos, shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in montane forests, lush woodlands, and gardens. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Similar overall to other turacos, but separated from most by the dark blue crown, and from Purple-crested Turaco by the white facial markings. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes.

Distribution is Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

Diet is Fruits and berries (some of which are extremely poisonous to humans) sometimes caterpillars, moths and beetles.

Habitat:  Montane evergreen forest , well-timbered suburban gardens  

Incubation: 16-18 days, 1-2 eggs

Social structure: forage in groups of up to 20 birds, monogamous pairs during breeding season 

Weight: max 270g, Dimensions:  max 43 cm

Estimated population in the wild: Unknown, fairly common.

IUCN Status: Least Concern

Threats:  There are no major threats for this species.

Their vivid plumage is a product of two unique copper pigments, unknown in any other bird family, or in any other animal group.

Turacos are poor flyers but are expert climbers, skipping nimbly from branch to branch, and moving from tree to tree by gliding or with a few fast wing beats.