Corythaeola cristata
The Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is an avian jewel of the African rainforests, celebrated for its striking appearance and unique taxonomic position. As the largest member of the Turaco family (Musophagidae) and the sole species in its genus, it measures an impressive 70-76 cm (27.5-30 inches) in length, including its long tail, and weighs between 800-1200 grams (1.75-2.65 lbs). Its plumage is a spectacle of deep, iridescent blue on the back and wings, with a paler blue to grey-blu...
Found primarily in the canopies of tropical and subtropical rainforests, gallery forests, and woodland edges in lowland and mid-altitude areas, typically below 2,000 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, feeding on a wide variety of forest fruits and berries; occasionally consumes insects and other invertebrates.
Great Blue Turacos are diurnal, with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon, often gathering in communal roosts high in emergent trees overnight. They are predominantly arboreal, moving through the canopy with remarkable agility, hopping and running along branches rather than flyin...
The Great Blue Turaco is a resident species, non-migratory throughout its extensive range across West and Central Africa. Its distribution stretches from Sierra Leone and Liberia eastward through Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, extending further into Gabon, Rep...
Least Concern
- The Great Blue Turaco is the largest of all turaco species, truly living up to its name. - Unlike its red and green relatives, the vibrant blue and green colors of the Great Blue Turaco's plumage are structural, meaning they are created by the microscopic structure of the feathers scattering li...