Great Blue Turaco
Corythaeola cristata
The Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is a rare turaco found in 19 countries, weighing about 965 g. The great blue turaco is a bird species of the family Musophagidae.
About the Great Blue Turaco
The great blue turaco is a bird species of the family Musophagidae. At 70–76 cm (28–30 in) in length, it is the largest species of turaco. It has predominantly grey-blue plumage with an upright blue-black crest around 10 cm (3.9 in) high. The male and female have similar plumage. It is widespread throughout the African tropical rainforest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Generally, the great blue turaco is 70–76 cm (28–30 in) in length with a mass of 800–1,231 g (1.764–2.714 lb). The adult great blue turaco has predominantly grey-blue upperparts with an upright blue-black crest, white chin, yellow-green lower breast and yellow belly darkening to chestnut brown posteriorly. The undertail coverts are chestnut, and the undertail is black and yellowish. The yellow bill has an orange-red tip, the eyes are brown, and surrounded by a ring of black bare skin. The legs and feet are black with yellow soles. The sexes have similar plumage.
What the Great Blue Turaco sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Great Blue Turaco can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Blue Turaco?
- Generally, the great blue turaco is 70–76 cm (28–30 in) in length with a mass of 800–1,231 g (1.764–2.714 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Blue Turaco?
- The Great Blue Turaco is a large sized bird weighing about 965 g.
- Where can you see a Great Blue Turaco?
- The Great Blue Turaco occurs in 19 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.
- What does a Great Blue Turaco sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Great Blue Turaco on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Great Blue Turaco?
- The Great Blue Turaco is most easily confused with the Eastern Plantain-eater, the Schalow's Turaco and the Hartlaub's Turaco.
- Is the Great Blue Turaco endangered?
- The Great Blue Turaco is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Great Blue Turaco for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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