Violet Turaco
Encyclopedia
The Violet Turaco is a large turaco
, a group of Africa
n near-passerines. It is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical west Africa. It lays two eggs in a tree platform nest.
These are unmistakable bird
s, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. They are 45 cm long, including a long tail. Their plumage is glossy violet except for the thick red bill, yellow forehead and chestnut crown. In flight, Violet Turaco's crimson primary flight feathers contrast with the violet plumage.
This species is a common breeder in climax forest with plentiful tall trees. It feeds on fruit, especially fig
s, and some seeds.
Cooperative breeding
behavior has been observed in captivity in this species.
Violet Turaco has a loud cooroo-cooroo call.
It is also called a violaceous plantain-eater.
Turaco
The turacos make up the bird family Musophagidae , which includes plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. In southern Africa both turacos and go-away-birds are commonly known as louries. They are semi-zygodactylous - the fourth toe can be switched back and forth...
, a group of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n near-passerines. It is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical west Africa. It lays two eggs in a tree platform nest.
These are unmistakable bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. They are 45 cm long, including a long tail. Their plumage is glossy violet except for the thick red bill, yellow forehead and chestnut crown. In flight, Violet Turaco's crimson primary flight feathers contrast with the violet plumage.
This species is a common breeder in climax forest with plentiful tall trees. It feeds on fruit, especially fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
s, and some seeds.
Cooperative breeding
Cooperative breeding
Cooperative breeding is a social system in which individuals contribute care to offspring that are not their own at the expense of their own reproduction . When reproduction is monopolized by one or few of the adult group members and most adults do not reproduce, but help rear the breeder’s...
behavior has been observed in captivity in this species.
Violet Turaco has a loud cooroo-cooroo call.
It is also called a violaceous plantain-eater.
External links
- Extract of an article about Violaceous Touracos on International Touraco Society website.
- Fact sheet from Toronto Zoo: http://www.torontozoo.com/Animals/details.asp?AnimalID=436