Giant turaco

Giant turaco

We are delighted that Dr Til Macke has taken over the sponsorship of the giant turaco (Corythaeola cristata).

The giant turaco is the largest member of the turaco family (Musophagidae), which is only found in Africa. Like most other species in this family, it stands out due to its colourful plumage and an impressive feather cap on its head.

Giant turacos inhabit rainforests in the lowlands and highlands, but also tree savannahs, from West Africa to Tanzania. They are not the best flyers, but they know how to climb around in the branches of trees, as they can twist their outer toe - like all turacos - and use it to grasp. Equipped in this way for life in the treetops, they look for food there or raise their offspring. They build their flat nests of twigs high up in the forks of branches. Both parents look after their young intensively and for a long time until the little ones are strong and skilful enough to fend for themselves.

At the top of their menu are all kinds of fruits, the seeds of which they usually excrete undigested. Turacos therefore play an important role in the rainforest ecosystem as seed dispersers.