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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
grey
turaco, grey go-away bird, grey lourie |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Cuculiformes
[Some sources cite a distinct Order for turacos
or "plaintain eaters" of Musophagiformes;
(prefix "musa" means "banana")] |
| FAMILY: |
Musophagidea
[23 species] |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Corythaixoides
(helmet-shaking) concolor (similar in color);
first described in 1833 |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Medium-sized gray bird with a long tail and tall
crest feathers. This species has a short, dark bill
and dark eyes. The body is slightly counter-shaded
and the legs are gray. The tail is long and measures
about the same length as the body. |
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| SIZE: |
From
beak to tip of tail 47.5-50 cm (19-20 in) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Less
than .45 kg (less than 1 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Feed
mostly on fruit, mainly figs (bananas are not native
to Africa); they will also forage for berries, flowers,
leaves, termites, seedpods, acacia, and snails (some
of which are peach-sized!) |
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| INCUBATION: |
26-28 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-3
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
4
weeks |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 20 years |
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| RANGE: |
South Africa; also tropical West and Central Africa |
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| HABITAT: |
Dry open acacia woodlands and broad-leaved forests,
often near water; populate farms, parks, and gardens |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Exact population counts are unknown, but these birds
are most frequently seen in pairs or small groups;
common in southern Africa |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
II for members of genus Tauraco |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
These
gray birds are characterized by a very distinct
"G'way" call, giving them their nickname,
grey go-away bird. They use this call to warn the
other birds in their flock of impending danger. |
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| 2. |
Turacos are the only birds to possess true green
and red pigmentation. When you look at most birds,
the color that you perceive is a function of the
feather structure and refracted light. The green
pigments are produced by substances that are rare
to other birds. The red colors are produced by pigments
(porphyrin) that are unique to the animal kingdom.
(In fact, if you stirred a glass of water with a
turaco feather, the water would turn color.) |
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| 3. |
Turacos possess semi-zygodactyl feet (3 toes in
front and one toe to the side). The toe that points
outward can be rotated to the front or back. |
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| 4. |
These
birds have a beautiful set of crest feathers that
can reach a height of about 5 cm (2 in.) during
periods of excitement. |
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| 5. |
Turacos
live in large flocks of up to 30 individuals. They
are monogamous in breeding. During courtship, the
male turaco will feed the female. Together, they
build their nest, with female and male taking turns
incubating the eggs. Once the eggs have hatched,
other flock members help the female care for the
chicks. Chicks can fly at 4 weeks of age. They may
leave the nest at 6 weeks of age (or decide to stay
with the flock). |
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| 6. |
They
use their long tails to maintain balance and their
feet are well adapted for gripping branches. These
birds seem to enjoy running along horizontal branches,
rather than hopping or flying. |
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Turacos
are a food source for many animals larger than
themselves.
Local
abundance combined with semi-destructive feeding
habits may bring turacos into conflict with farmers
who experience the birds as pests amongst their
crops. However, turacos - due in large part to
their particular feeding habits - do play an active
role in seed dispersal.
Turacos
in the genus Tauraco are listed as CITES
Appendix II species.
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|
| Austin,
G. Birds of The World. Golden Press, Inc.,
New York, 1961. |
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Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
Blandford Books Ltd., UK, 1981. |
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Simpson, D.P. Cassell's Latin Dictionary.
Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1959.
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| www.natralia.org |
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| www.zoonomen.net/avtax |
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