# Ross's turaco (*Musophaga rossae*) Ross's turaco is a colorful bird with bright green and red feathers. It loves to hop around in trees and is known for its beautiful, loud calls that sound like music in the forest. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Ross's turaco](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Musophaga_rossae_-Lady_Ross'_Turaco_-Houston_Zoo.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ed Schipul from Houston, TX, US, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Musophaga_rossae_-Lady_Ross'_Turaco_-Houston_Zoo.jpg) ## Appearance The Ross's turaco has striking glossy blue-purple body plumage, contrasting with a bright red, velvety crest and a prominent yellow bill with a red tip. Its bare red eye-ring adds to its unique, regal appearance, making it unmistakable among African birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Musophagiformes - **Family:** Musophagidae - **Genus:** Musophaga ## Interesting facts - Ross's turaco swallows large fruits whole, seeds and all, helping new plants grow! - Their bright red crest feels like soft velvet, making them look very fancy! - Their loud, cackling calls can travel far through the dense African rainforests! - They have special feet that can point two toes forward and two back for super grip! ## Special abilities - **Water-Soluble Colors:** Ross's turaco has unique red and green feather pigments that can slightly dissolve, making their vibrant colors truly special. - **Agile Climber:** Ross's turaco can rotate its outer toe, helping it grip branches from any angle for agile climbing. - **Loud Watchman:** Ross's turaco has a loud cackling call, helping them communicate warnings and mark territory in dense forests. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-54 cm - **Wingspan:** 75-85 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 20-23 days ## Diet & Feeding This fruit-loving bird mostly eats yummy fruits, like figs, helping to spread seeds for new trees. - **Age differences:** Young birds are fed regurgitated fruit by parents until they can forage independently. - **Primary Foods:** Ficus fruits, Elaeis guineensis fruits, Musa fruits, Acacia seeds, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Cape Fig (*Ficus sur*) — Consumes fruits, dispersing seeds - **Eats:** African Oil Palm (*Elaeis guineensis*) — Feeds on the oily fruits - **Eaten by:** [Crowned Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crowned-eagle) (*Stephanoaetus coronatus*) — A primary avian predator ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ross's turaco? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ross's turaco? 50-54 cm ### What is Ross's turaco's wingspan? 75-85 cm ### How much does Ross's turaco weigh? 0.2-0.3 kg ### How long does Ross's turaco live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Ross's turaco move? 35 km/h ### What does Ross's turaco eat? This fruit-loving bird mostly eats yummy fruits, like figs, helping to spread seeds for new trees. ### Where is Ross's turaco usually found? Forests ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Ross's turaco: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rosss-turaco)