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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
white-cheeked
turaco |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Cuculiformes |
| FAMILY: |
Musophagidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Tauraco (imitation of bird's call) leucotis
(white ear) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Green with deep greenish-blue tail and wings (crimson
under wings). Patch of white in front of eye and
side of neck. Red beak and eye ring. Blue-green
crest. |
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| SIZE: |
43 cm (17 in) from beak to tip of tail |
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| DIET: |
Fruit, some invertebrates (frugivores) |
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| INCUBATION: |
21-24 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-3
eggs |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Approximately 10-12 years |
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| RANGE: |
Central and South Africa |
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| HABITAT: |
Tall forest, riverside forest, evergreen forest,
and wooded valleys |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
No
data |
| CITES |
Appendix III |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
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| 1. |
Turacos
are the only birds to possess true red and green
pigmentation. When you look at most birds, the color
you are seeing is a reflection produced by the feather
structure. The turaco's red pigment (turacin) and
green pigment (turacoverdin) both contain copper.
In fact, if you stirred a glass of water with a
red turaco feather, the water would turn pink! |
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| 2. |
On their head is a beautiful crest, which stands
about 5 cm (2 in.) when they are excited. |
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| 3. |
They use their long tails for balance and their
feet are very good at gripping. In fact, their fourth
toe can rotate forward or backward in order to have
a better grip on their perch. |
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| 4. |
These
turacos live in flocks of up to 12 individuals.
They are shy and prefer to perch out of sight. |
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| 5. |
They
are monogamous in breeding. During courtship, the
male turaco will feed the female. Together, they
build their nest; mother and father take turns sitting
on the eggs. Once the eggs have hatched, other flock
members help the new mother care for the chicks.
Chicks can fly at 4 weeks of age. They may leave
the nest at 6 weeks of age (or decide to stay with
the flock). |
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| 6. |
When
faced with danger, they sit very still and fly away
at the last minute with power flaps, revealing the
crimson color under their wings. |
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Turacos are a food source for many animals larger
than themselves.
They
are so abundant in Africa that they are considered
a pest. Their feeding habits are very destructive,
which annoys most gardeners. However, they aid
in seed dispersal by messily eating fruit. The
many seeds that pass through their system create
new growth.
These
birds also warn other animals of predators with
their bright red wings in flight.
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|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. Golden Press, Inc.,
New York, 1961. |
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Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
Blandford Books Ltd., UK, 1981. |
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Perrins, Christopher (ed.). The Encyclopedia
of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications,
1985.
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| Simpson,
D.P. Cassell's Latin Dictionary. Macmillan
Publishing Company, New York., 1959. |
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| Williams,
J. Collins. Field Guide to the Birds of East
Africa. ???????, 1980. |
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| www.oaklandzoo.org |
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