The Turaco bird has received great attention from lovers of unique birds, because of its features that make it delight the eyes and steal hearts, starting from its external beauty represented by its bright feathers to its graceful movement that breathes life into every place.
The distinctive Turaco bird is considered a source of inspiration for many writers and artists, and in many cultures it symbolizes elegance and beauty. Seeing it in its wild nature is an enchanting experience that enriches the soul and brings happiness.
What is a turaco bird? Origin, food, reproduction, how to care for it and many other important details we will learn about in this article from teketrek..
About the turaco bird
The toraco brid, or the one with the beautiful and attractive crown, these birds belong to the Musophagiformes order and the Musophagidea family. They also belong to the Omnivores phylum, the phylum Vertebrate .
It is one of the birds that lives in evergreen forests.
Turaco birds are found in sub-Saharan Africa, most commonly in Malay, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, in addition to Burundi and Tanzania. We can also find them in mountainous and lowland areas based on type, and it should be noted that they have been classified into several groups, namely:
Distant touaregs
Crested touca
Big blue touareg
Turaco bird species
The Turaco includes a group of species that we will mention below along with their scientific name:
Tauraco fischeri: (Tauraco fischeri)
Guinean Tauraco: (Tauraco persa), which is considered one of the fastest species due to the climate and location that surrounds it, as it has been relied upon in many races within the region in which it is found.
Tauraco corythaix.
Tauraco schalowi: which is considered one of the best types in maneuvering operations, and which we find largely on the banks of waterfalls.
Tauraco bannermani: (Tauraco bannermani).
Yellow-billed Tauraco: (Tauraco macrorhynchus).
Tauraco ruspolii: (Tauraco ruspolii).
Tauraco hartlaubi: (Tauraco hartlaubi).
Purple-crested Tauraco: (Tauraco porphyreolophus), which is characterized by the identical appearance of the female and the male, as it is difficult to differentiate between them.
White-crested Tauraco: (Tauraco leucolophus).
White-cheeked tauraco: (Tauraco leucotis).
Black-billed Tauraco: (Tauraco schuetti), which is considered one of the largest birds relatively.
What are the characteristics of the Turaco bird
The size of Turaco birds ranges between 35 and 70 cm.
Turaco birds have rounded wings
Turaco birds have a short beak
Turaco birds do not fly well
The Turaco bird has a long neck
Its feet contain external toes that enable it to bend back and forth.
Turaco birds have a prominent crest of feathers on their heads.
The grassland species of turaco birds are characterized by their gray and brown color, while those that live in forest areas are known for their bright feathers colored green, blue, purple, in addition to red.
The weight of the Turaco ranges between 262 and 380 grams.
Food for the Turaco bird
Although the Turaco bird is known as the banana eater, it does not depend entirely on it, What does a turaco eat?
Invertebrates such as small insects and molluscs.
Figs are one of the Turaco’s favorite foods.
The Turaco prefers to eat grapes, papaya, fruit, leaves, as well as flowers and buds.
It is worth noting that the Turaco bird collects some foods and stores them in specific places to protect itself from any danger, usually inside trees, where it works to bring many foods such as berries, useful herbs, worms and many other insects found in the place where they live. with it.
Reproduction in the Turaco bird
The Turaco’s breeding season begins with the rainy season with a unique and exciting courtship ritual, featuring displays of feeding fruit to each other and wagging their tail and beak.
In addition to spreading their wings to highlight their beautiful feathers, it should be noted that they are monogamous birds. Its nest is flat and made up of some large sticks, and is placed in the middle of dense trees.
After mating, females lay two to three eggs at a time, varying in color depending on the species. The parents take turns incubating them during a period ranging between 22-23 days for specific species, or between 27-28 days for other species.
The parents provide care for the young in the first few weeks, and they are fed fruit cores after chewing them. The chicks begin to try to move and climb when they reach approximately three weeks of age, then they begin to try to fly in the fourth or fifth week of their life.
Interesting information about the Turaco bird
The Turaco bird migrates from the place where it lives to another place in order to search for food and mate. It prepares its nest with suitable materials that it chooses for itself, including sticks, herbs, and straw, in addition to wood, which is another element of protection.
The Turaco bird uses a group of flowers and spreads them around its nest, because this works to adjust its mood and increase its happiness, in addition to protecting it because it appears in a camouflaged form.
The Turaco bird emits amazing melodies that delight all listeners.
What is most distinctive about Turaco birds is that they are the only ones that secrete a green-colored substance from their feather cells. As for other birds, the green color that appears in their feathers is only a result of the reflection of sunlight.
The care that must be followed for the Turaco bird:
If you want to care for and raise a Turaco bird, you must take into account many standards and weather conditions suitable for it, the most important of which are as follows:
Atmospheric conditions similar to the climate in which he lives, namely tropical conditions, must be created, which contributes to improving his mood.
Providing a housing with high-quality specifications. It is preferable that the cage contain a set of equipment such as clean straw on which to rest and lay eggs, clean water drinks, and a clean food tray.
Check the bird periodically and clean it well of dirt, as it is a sensitive bird.
Paying attention to the quality of the food provided, as he must be fed what he previously ate and focus on its richness in the necessary nutrients.
Providing a wide environment allows this bird to roam as far as possible, as it is one of the birds that loves freedom and derives its strength and energy from flying.
Protect it from any danger it may be exposed to from predators.
Frequently asked questions about the Turaco bird
There are many common questions that people ask about the Turaco bird, here are the most important ones:
Can turaco fly?
Yes, they can fly from perch to peech.
How long do turacos live?
Turaco bird live between 10 to 15 years in the wild.
Can turacos live together?
Turacos are monogamous birds.
What does the turaco bird symbolize?
The tuarco bird symbolizes luck, wealth and fertility.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that the Turaco bird is a precious treasure that brings feelings of happiness and peace to the hearts of all who see it. It is an artistic painting that decorates the forests of the world, reflecting in its splendor the creativity of the Creator.
