EN
Violet turaco – Musophaga violacea
Violet Turaco – Musophaga violacea
The violet turaco is a monotypic, it has no subspecies. It lives in Africa, Cameroon. Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo, Liberia and Nigeria. Isolated populations are present in Chad and the Central African Republic.
adults, the cap and nape are red-crimson feathers are short and velvety. Chin, throat and neck show a blue-black color purple shiny. The upper parts and wings blankets are a nice set blue-purple. The tail is blue-violet but is tinged with green. The beak is red, topped with a yellow helmet convex rises above the eyes to the front. The irises are dark brown, surrounded by a red orbital ring. Juveniles resemble small crows, they do not have the bright colors of adults.
Turacos emit violet wheel series and melodious notes. They generally live in the gallery forests and forest edges, in wooded areas along rivers in arid savanna in parks, gardens and tall trees on the outskirts of cities. They live from sea level to about 1000 meters.
They feed mainly on fruits, berries and seeds, figs larvae and insects, slugs and snails.
They live in pairs or small groups. They are able to run fast on the branches. These monogamous form of territorial pairs.
The nest is a flimsy platform resembling pigeons. It is built mainly with sticks and twigs, it is placed about 6 m above the ground in a shady tree. Laying contains 2 eggs oval and greyish-white. Incubation lasts 25 or 26 days is provided by both parents.
These birds are not globally threatened.
