Purple-crested turaco
| Purple-crested turaco | |
|---|---|
_(32424422866).jpg)
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| Nominate race in Ithala G. R. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Musophagiformes |
| Family: | Musophagidae |
| Genus: | Tauraco |
| Species: | T. porphyreolophus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tauraco porphyreolophus (Vigors, 1831)
| |
The purple-crested turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus) is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae. It is the National Bird of the Kingdom of Swaziland, and the crimson flight feathers of this and related turaco species are important in the ceremonial regalia of the Swazi royal family.
Description
This bird has a purple coloured crest above a green head, a red ring around their eyes, and a black bill. The neck and chest are green and brown. The rest of the body is purple, with red flight feathers.
Habitat
They live in moist woodland and evergreen forests. They eat mainly fruit.
Range
It is found in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Their southernmost occurrence is at the Mtamvuna River on the KwaZulu-Natal-Eastern Cape border.[2]
Gallery
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Close-up of front and head plumage -
Visiting a waterhole in uMkhuze G. R. -
Illustration by Andrew Smith, showing crimson primaries
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References
- ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Gallirex porphyreolophus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ Clancey, P. A. (December 1975). "A One-time Mecca for Ornithologists" (PDF). Natalia. 5: 29–35. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- National Aviary. Purple-Crested Turaco.
- International Turaco Society ITS Magazine 1993-2012
(Swazi References - Spring 2012 Clive Humphreys)
External links
- Purple-crested turaco - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.