Violet Turaco

Violet Turaco
At Atlanta Zoo, Georgia, USA
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Musophagidae
Genus:	Musophaga
Species:	M. violacea
Binomial name
Musophaga violacea (Isert, 1788)

The Violet Turaco (Musophaga violacea) is a large turaco, a group of African near-passerines. It is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical west Africa. It lays two eggs in a tree platform nest.

These are unmistakable birds, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. They are 45 cm long, including a long tail. Their plumage is glossy violet except for the thick red bill, yellow forehead and chestnut crown. In flight, Violet Turaco's crimson primary flight feathers contrast with the violet plumage.

This species is a common breeder in climax forest with plentiful tall trees. It feeds on fruit, especially figs, and some seeds.

Cooperative breeding behavior has been observed in captivity in this species^[1].

Violet Turaco has a loud cooroo-cooroo call.

It is also called a violaceous plantain-eater.

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References

1. ^ Bent, Nancy; Corbett, Francine (1993). "Helping behaviour and other observations on nesting in the violet turaco". Avicultural Magazine 99 (3): 132–135. ISSN 0005-2256. 

• BirdLife International (2004). Musophaga violacea. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1

External links

• Extract of an article about Violaceous Touracos on International Touraco Society website.
• Fact sheet from Toronto Zoo: http://www.torontozoo.com/Animals/details.asp?AnimalID=436