Turaco (Knysna)

The Knysna Turaco is found in South Africa and is a large resident breeder in the mature evergreen forests of south-eastern South Africa. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the Green Turaco of West Africa.It feeds on fruit, insects and earthworms.


This is an unmistakable bird witha small thick orange-red bill and a white line under the eye. The Knysna Turaco is mainly green plumage with a tall green crest, which is tipped with white. The eye is brown with deep red eye-ring. Sexes are similar, but juvenile birds have a shorter crest without the white tips.

This species lays two eggs in a shallow platform nest made from sticks and placed in high in a tree or clump of creepers. When in flight, this Turaco shows conspicuous crimson primary flight feathers.



Photographed at Discovery Cove Aviary, Orlando, FL