Schalow's Turaco

Overview

Schalow's turaco (Tauraco schalowi) is a frugivorous bird in the family Musophagidae named after the German banker and amateur ornithologist Herman Schalow. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Coppery-jade green plumage that fades to dark iridescent blue towards the tail.
• Long white tripped crests with small red beaks and red skin around dark eyes lined with white feathers.
• Light body weighing just over 270g with a length of 15 to 17 inches.
• Short and round wings featuring red flight feathers designed for short flights.

Habitat

The species is distributed mainly in Zambia, central Angola, the southern DRC, and the uplands of southern Kenya, northern and western Tanzania, and western Malawi. It occurs very locally in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where it frequents riparian habitats of the Zambezi and Cuando Rivers. It inhabits forested uplands and wooded inland plateaus of south central Africa, being replaced in eastern lowlands by Livingstone's turaco.

Diet

Schalow's turaco consumes mainly fruit and other plant matter, although chicks eat a more insect-based diet. They generally feed in large flocks and are social outside of the nesting season.

Did you know?

Mature Schalow's turacos have, on average, the longest crests of any turaco species.