Newsletter / Blog
2012-03-04 Aves bird of the week – Knysna Turaco - Tauraco corythaix
The Knysna
Turaco - Tauraco corythaix – is an endemic resident in South Africa. It
is found in the mature evergreen forests of southern and eastern South Africa. These
birds are one of the most effective seed spreaders in our evergreen forests.
Description
Within its range,
this is an unmistakable bird, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. It has
a long tail, a small but thick orange-red bill and a white line just under the
eye. The birds overall plumage is a beautiful green and purple, with a tall
green crest, which is tipped with white. The eye is brown and the eye-ring deep
red. The legs are black. In flight, it shows conspicuous crimson primary flight
feathers. Sexes are similar, but juvenile birds have a shorter crest without
the white tips.
Call
Their calls are a
loud woop-woop-woop-korr-korr… and kok-kok-kok.
Food
It feeds mainly
on fruit, supplemented with seeds and invertebrates. It does most of its
foraging in the canopy of trees, sometimes descending to fruiting bushes and
shrubs.
Breeding
The breeding
season can be any time between May and February. The dove like nest is built by
both sexes, and consists of a flimsy platform twigs. One to two eggs are laid, which
are white, smooth, round and incubated by both sexes for 20 to 24 days. The
chicks stay in the nest for about 3 weeks and are independent around 30 days.
Conservation Status – Least concern
Not threatened,
although its population is locally impacted by deforestation.
Birdwatching
To see these
magnificent birds ask Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a custom tour for you or book on one of
these scheduled Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
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