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Musophagidae - Turacos

There are 23 species in this family of birds. They live in forests south of the Sahara.

They have short, rounded wings and aren’t very graceful in flight. They have down-curved bills, long tails, plump bodies, and come in a variety of colors. Some are combinations of red and green and yellow and blue.

They are very good at climbing around in trees and hopping from branch to branch. They are also very agile on the ground and are fast runners!

They eat fruits, seeds, and insects.

They live in small flocks and are very social birds.

  • Bannermann's turaco is found in mountain forests in Cameroon. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Bannerman's Turaco
    (Tauraco bannermani)
    Bannermann's turaco is found in mountain forests in Cameroon. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The bare-faced go-away-bird is found in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Bare-Faced Go-Away-Bird
    (Corythaixoides personatus)
    The bare-faced go-away-bird is found in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-billed turaco is found in Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Billed Turaco
    (Tauraco schuetti)
    The black-billed turaco is found in Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The eastern gray plantain-eater is found in Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Eastern Gray Plantain-Eater
    (Crinifer zonurus)
    The eastern gray plantain-eater is found in Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Fisher's turaco is found in lowland and mountain forests in Kenya, northeastern Tanzania, and southern Somalia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Fischer's Turaco
    (Tauraco fischeri)
    Fisher's turaco is found in lowland and mountain forests in Kenya, northeastern Tanzania, and southern Somalia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The gray go-away bird is found in Angola, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Go-Away-Bird
    (Corythaixoides concolor)
    The gray go-away bird is found in Angola, Botswana, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The great blue turaco is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Great Blue Turaco
    (Corythaeola cristata)
    The great blue turaco is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Guinea turaco, also known as the green turaco, is found in is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Guinea Turaco
    (Tauraco persa)
    The Guinea turaco, also known as the green turaco, is found in is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Hartlaub's turaco is found in evergreen forests in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Hartlaub's Turaco
    (Tauraco hartlaubi)
    Hartlaub's turaco is found in evergreen forests in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Knysna turaco is found in Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Knysna Turaco
    (Tauraco corythaix)
    The Knysna turaco is found in Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Livingstone's turaco is found in subtropical lowlands in Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Livingstone's Turaco
    (Tauraco livingstonii)
    Livingstone's turaco is found in subtropical lowlands in Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Prince Ruspoli's turaco is found in subtropical and tropical dry forests in Ethiopia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Prince Ruspoli's Turaco
    (Tauraco ruspolii)
    Prince Ruspoli's turaco is found in subtropical and tropical dry forests in Ethiopia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The purple-crested turaco is found in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Purple-Crested Turaco
    (Tauraco porphyreolophus)
    The purple-crested turaco is found in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-crested turaco is found in Angola. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-Crested Turaco
    (Tauraco erythrolophus)
    The red-crested turaco is found in Angola. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Ross's turaco is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Ross's Turaco
    (Musophaga rossae)
    Ross's turaco is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Schalow's turaco has the longest crest of any species of turaco. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Schalow's Turaco
    (Tauraco schalowi)
    Schalow's turaco has the longest crest of any species of turaco. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The violet turaco is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Violet Turaco
    (Musophaga violacea)
    The violet turaco is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The western gray plantain-eater is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Western Gray Plantain-Eater
    (Crinifer piscator)
    The western gray plantain-eater is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-bellied go-away-bird is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Bellied Go-Away-Bird
    (Corythaixoides leucogaster)
    The white-bellied go-away-bird is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-cheeked turaco is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Cheeked Turaco
    (Tauraco leucotis)
    The white-cheeked turaco is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The yellow-billed turaco is found in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Yellow-Billed Turaco
    (Tauraco macrorhynchus)
    The yellow-billed turaco is found in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Hartlaub's Turaco is one of the species found in this family.
Hartlaub's Turaco is one of the species found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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