Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) at Mabira Forest Reserve in Uganda |
I saw my first turaco one week after arriving in Rwanda. I was hiking toward the back of ASYV property, descending from the top of our hill. Michele had just left for breakfast. And then a crazy looking turkey-like bird landed in a tree. I nearly ran after Michele to bring her back; it would be two full months before she would see a turaco.
Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus) in a fruiting tree, near Kibungo, Eastern Province, Rwanda |
Turacos are unique birds. They are big, ranging in length from 40-75 centimeters (about 1.25-2.5 feet). They are generally brightly colored, have long tails, and glide from tree to tree. They eat fruits, such as small berries, with their thick, down-curved bills. There are 23 species in the turaco family (Musophagidae); all are found only in Africa.
Many turacos have bright reds on their wings that are only visible in flight. This is the purple-crested turaco gliding through a valley. |
Michele and I have seen eleven of the turaco species: great blue turaco, Ross’s turaco, Rwenzori turaco, white-crested turaco, purple-crested turaco, Hartlaub’s turaco, Schalow’s turaco, black-billed turaco, white-bellied go-away bird, bare-faced go-away bird, and the eastern grey plantain-eater. We have seen all the turacos that occur in Rwanda and Uganda, and all but three in Tanzania. We went looking for Fischer’s turaco in the forests of the East Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, but we never caught a glimpse.
These Ross's Turacos (Musophaga rossae) actually chased away the purple-crested turacos from the fruiting trees near Kibungo, Eastern Province, Rwanda. |
An upclose view of Ross's Turaco, seen here in Parike W'Agahozo at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Ross's Turaco is the only turaco species I have observed at ASYV. |
Most of the turacos proved difficult to photograph with our point-and-shoot camera, especially since they glide into trees and are often obscured by the leaves. However, we managed a few decent shots of seven species.
Birdwatchers and birders are generally interested in all types of birds, some of which are dull and totally uninteresting to the non-birder. Other birds, however, transcend into wildlife spectacles. Birds like flamingoes, parrots, and turacos are birds that anyone can enjoy. One of our non-birder colleagues visited Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda and said watching the great blue turaco in flight was one of the highlights of her trip. Well done, turaco, you put on a good show!
Bare-faced Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides personatus) in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. |
White-bellied Go-away-bird (Criniferoides leucogaster) east of Tarangire National Park, Tanzania |
Eastern Grey Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus) near Mabamba Swamp, Uganda |
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