Bird
Ross's Turaco
Musophaga rossaeAlso known as Lady Ross's Turaco, Ross's Lourie
Ross's turacos bound energetically through forest canopies, using long tails for balance as they leap across branches in search of fruiting trees. Pairs and small family groups announce their territories with loud, resonant chorus calls that roll through the riverine woodland at dawn and dusk. In flight, broad wings reveal vibrant crimson flight feathers, colored by rare copper-based pigments unique to the turaco family.
FrugivoreArborealVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWild figs, Musanga cecropioides fruits, Caterpillars
Predators
- Crowned eagle
- African goshawk
- Large tree snakes
ThreatsHabitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion
HabitatsRiverine forests, moist woodland, and forest edges
Life span8–14 years in the wild; up to 30 years in captivity
Classification
- OrderMusophagiformes
- FamilyMusophagidae
- GenusMusophaga
- SpeciesMusophaga rossae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listening: Tune your ear to deep, guttural 'carr-carr' chorus calls rolling across canopy tops at daybreak.
- Watching: Look for sudden flashes of brilliant crimson among dense foliage when birds take flight.
- Positioning: Scan high fruiting fig trees along rivers quietly using binoculars to avoid startling shy pairs.
Prey no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) John Puddephatt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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