Bird
Great Blue Turaco
Corythaeola cristataAlso known as Blue Plantain-Eater, Great Turaco
Great blue turacos glide heavily between high rainforest trees, using broad wings and long tails to navigate the upper canopy in small, vocal family groups. Early mornings bring resonant, rhythmic calling sequences that carry for over a kilometer across the forest floor. They leap deftly along mossy branches to harvest wild figs, tender leaves, and caterpillars, serving as vital canopy seed dispersers.
Canopy SpecialistVocalFruit-Eater
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFigs, Leaves, Caterpillars
Predators
- Crowned Eagle
- African Goshawk
- Leopard
ThreatsDeforestation, local hunting for meat and feathers
HabitatsTropical rainforest, gallery forest, montane forest canopy
Life span15–30 years
Classification
- OrderMusophagiformes
- FamilyMusophagidae
- GenusCorythaeola
- SpeciesCorythaeola cristata
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 for Calls: Listen for loud, rhythmic calling sequences echoing through the high canopy early in the morning.
- Canopy Scanning: Look into fruiting fig trees where social family groups gather to feed together.
Predator (c) Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋), some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Relative (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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