Tauraco fischeri
The Fischer's Turaco (Tauraco fischeri) is a striking member of the Turaco family, characterized by its vibrant emerald green plumage, glossy red crest outlined in black, and a distinctive bright white eye-ring with a prominent white stripe beneath the eye. Averaging about 40 cm (16 in) in length and weighing 227-285 g (8-10 oz), it showcases striking deep crimson flight feathers (primaries) that flash conspicuously during flight. This arboreal species belongs to the Musophagiformes order and...
Found in coastal evergreen forests, riverine forests, acacia-commiphora woodlands, and dense bush thickets from sea level up to 1,250 meters (4,100 ft) in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of wild fruits, especially figs and berries, supplemented with flowers, buds, and occasionally insects; foraging occurs directly from tree branches.
Highly arboreal and diurnal, Fischer's Turacos spend most of their time navigating the upper and middle canopies of dense forests, often moving with surprising speed by 'running' along branches rather than flying. They typically roost communally in dense foliage, especially during non-breeding pe...
The Fischer's Turaco is endemic to a fragmented range in East Africa, primarily along the coastal and sub-coastal forests of Kenya and Tanzania. The nominate subspecies, *Tauraco fischeri fischeri*, is found from southeastern Kenya (from the Lamu area south to the Shimba Hills) extending into nor...
Near Threatened
- Fischer's Turaco possesses unique copper-based pigments, turacin (red) and turacoverdin (green), making them one of the few birds with true green color, not structural iridescence. - Their vibrant red primary feathers contain turacin, a pigment so unique it can be washed out of the feathers by ...