# White-crested Turaco (*Tauraco leucolophus*) The White-crested Turaco is a colorful bird with a striking white crest on its head. It loves to hop around in trees and can be found in the forests of Africa, making it a fun bird to spot! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![White-crested Turaco](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tauraco_leucolophus_-Brookfield_Zoo%252C_Chicago%252C_USA-8a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brian, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tauraco_leucolophus_-Brookfield_Zoo%252C_Chicago%252C_USA-8a.jpg) ## Appearance The White-crested Turaco has a distinctive fluffy white crest atop its head, contrasting with a vibrant dark green body. Its striking red eye-ring and broad bill add to its unique appearance, while its flight feathers show flashes of dark blue-black. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Musophagiformes - **Family:** Musophagidae - **Genus:** Tauraco ## Interesting facts - Their nests are surprisingly flimsy, often just a few twigs in tangled vines! - These birds run and hop along branches like squirrels, rarely flying long distances! - When it rains, the special red color in their feathers can actually wash out a little! - White-crested Turacos are part of an ancient bird family found only in Africa! ## Special abilities - **Canopy Climber:** White-crested Turaco can grip branches tightly because of its zygodactyl feet, allowing it to move quickly through trees. - **Loud Forest Call:** White-crested Turaco can produce loud, booming calls that help them communicate across dense forest canopies. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-42 cm - **Wingspan:** 55-60 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-0.26 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2 - **Incubation:** 21-23 days ## Diet & Feeding Mostly eats yummy fruits, leaves, and flowers, but sometimes snacks on insects too! - **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Leaves, Flowers, Buds, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Crowned Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crowned-eagle) (*Stephanoaetus coronatus*) — A large raptor that preys on medium-sized birds. - **Eats:** Broom Cluster Fig (*Ficus sur*) — Feeds on its fruits, helping to disperse the fig's seeds. - **Eats:** Corkwood Tree (*Musanga cecropioides*) — Relies on the abundant fruits of this fast-growing tree. ## Traits - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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 do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-crested 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 White-crested Turaco? 40-42 cm ### What is White-crested Turaco's wingspan? 55-60 cm ### How much does White-crested Turaco weigh? 0.2-0.26 kg ### How long does White-crested Turaco live? 10-15 years ### How fast can White-crested Turaco move? 35 km/h ### What does White-crested Turaco eat? Mostly eats yummy fruits, leaves, and flowers, but sometimes snacks on insects too! ### Where is White-crested Turaco usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vogelpark-heiligenkirchen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## 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: [White-crested Turaco: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-crested-turaco)