Turaco (Red-crested)

Red-crested Turaco is native to Angola. It is found south of the Sahara, from Angola to Congo.

Red-crested Turaco, as other members of this family, has two copper pigments, “red turacin” and “turacoverdin”, not found in any other birds. In most of birds, these bright colours are produced by diffraction of light on the surface of the feathers, but not so with Turacos.

These two pigments are closely related to the habitat where the birds are living, and that is of great interest.

 

Photographed at Bird Kingdom, Niagara Falls, ON