Birds · Musophagiformes · Musophagidae

Knysna Turaco

Tauraco corythaix

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Knysna turaco, or lourie, is an intensely green bird with a white-tipped crest, a red eye-ring and large crimson wing patches visible only in flight. It is endemic to the coastal forests of eastern South Africa and Eswatini, and one of the most sought-after birds for birdwatchers on South Africa's Garden Route.

Weight

270 g – 380 g

Size

40 cm – 48 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

Its green is turacoverdin, a copper-bearing pigment found only in its family: the only genuine green pigment in the bird world.
Its red wing pigment, turacin, also contains copper and is water-soluble: zoos have documented turaco bathing water turning pink.
It moves through the canopy by running along the branches rather than flying, and its flight is short, heavy and direct, with a burst of red as it opens its wings.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Moist coastal forest, gallery forest and wooded gardens of eastern South Africa
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 22 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauraco_corythaix