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Hartlaub's Turaco
Montane forest, riverine woodland and dense highland canopy
Habitat
Year round
Best Viewing Season
Least Concern
Conservation Status
Introduction
A forest jewel hiding crimson flight feathers made from a copper pigment found in no other bird family on Earth, Hartlaub's turaco runs through the montane canopy with squirrel-like agility. Their barking call echoes through Arusha National Park's highland forest. Watch for the flash of red when they open their wings.
Behaviour & Facts
Hartlaub's turaco is a forest bird of extraordinary colour. The body is a deep glossy blue-green, the crest is dark purple-blue, and hidden beneath the wings is a flash of vivid crimson that only appears in flight. The red is produced by a copper-based pigment called turacin that is unique to the turaco family and found in no other bird on Earth. They live in the canopy of montane forest and dense highland woodland, moving through the branches with a bounding, almost squirrel-like agility. They run along branches rather than flying between them when the gaps are short, which gives them a distinctive motion that is unlike any other bird you will see on safari. Their call is a loud, rolling series of barking notes that carries through the forest. It is one of the first sounds you hear on a morning walk through Arusha National Park or the Ngorongoro forest, and once you learn to recognise it you will hear turacos everywhere in the highland canopy.
Jack Fleckney - Legend Head Guide
Turacos are frugivores. They eat soft fruits, berries and occasionally flowers and leaves. They play an important role as seed dispersers in montane forest because they swallow fruits whole and pass the seeds intact through their digestive system. The health of many highland tree species depends partly on turaco activity. They live in pairs or small family groups of up to five birds and are sedentary, holding the same territory in the forest canopy year round. Nests are loose stick platforms built in dense cover, and both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. On the northern circuit, Arusha National Park is the premier location. The montane forest around the Momella Lakes and the lower slopes of Mount Meru holds a strong population of habituated birds. The forested rim of Ngorongoro also holds them, though the forest is less accessible from the road. Lake Manyara's groundwater forest occasionally produces sightings.
Where to see
Hartlaub's Turaco
in Tanzania
Where to see turacos in Tanzania?
Arusha National Park is the best location on the northern circuit. The montane forest around the Momella Lakes and Mount Meru holds a strong habituated population. The Ngorongoro forest rim also has turacos but access is less straightforward. Lake Manyara's groundwater forest produces occasional sightings.
Why are turaco feathers red?
The crimson flight feathers contain a copper-based pigment called turacin that is unique to the turaco family and found in no other bird. The pigment is water soluble, which means the red colour can wash out in heavy rain, though the feathers regenerate it quickly. It is one of the rarest pigments in the animal kingdom.
What do turacos eat?
Turacos eat primarily soft fruits and berries, which they swallow whole. They also take flowers and occasionally leaves. They are important seed dispersers in the montane forest because seeds pass through their digestive system intact and are deposited across their territory as the birds move through the canopy.
Are turacos easy to see?
They are canopy birds and can be tricky to spot in dense forest despite their bright colour. The key is listening for their loud barking call and then scanning the canopy patiently for movement. In Arusha National Park the birds are habituated and often feed at eye level near the road, making sightings much easier.
How big are Hartlaub's turacos?
They are medium sized birds, roughly 40 to 43 centimetres from bill to tail and weighing around 200 to 300 grams. The crest and long tail give them a larger appearance. They are bigger than most songbirds but smaller than hornbills.
Do turacos migrate?
No. Hartlaub's turacos are resident year round in their forest territories. Pairs and small family groups stay in the same patch of canopy throughout the year, which makes them predictable to find once you know their location. Your Legend Expeditions guide knows the reliable territories in Arusha National Park.
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