The Red-crested Turaco is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Found in the forests of Western Africa in Senegal and Guinea and east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo this is a species with a large distribution area. This species of Turaco prefer forests as they are great hopper and like to bounch through the canopy and tend to be weaker fliers than most birds.
Averaging a length of 20 inches this species shares many similar visual traits with the Lady Ross Turaco. It has a dark deep blue body which is iridescent in light with red feathering under its wings. Adults have a bright orange beak and yellow cap, red feathering on its head and white markings behind its eyes.
The diet of this species consists primarily of fruit, flowers and foliage. This species flocks in groups of up to 20 or more individuals. They can be a nuisance to farmers as they fly into farms and eat fruit that is intended to be sold or consumed by humans. Though through the process of consuming fruit they disperse the seeds and help forests continue to grow.
Turaco are known for building a flimsy nests. Most often two eggs are laid and incubated for roughly 24 days before hatching. Chicks fledge very quickly often in just about 30 days.
The first documentation of this species in the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) was in 1980. This species is currently housed in at least 40 AZA institutions. Though found in private collections in the United States, they are not common. The AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) does have an SSP (Species Survival Plan) which monitors breeding in zoos to ensure that there is a stable population in the United States. These breeding programs help to ensure that the species survives in case there is a problem with the wild population.
Averaging a length of 20 inches this species shares many similar visual traits with the Lady Ross Turaco. It has a dark deep blue body which is iridescent in light with red feathering under its wings. Adults have a bright orange beak and yellow cap, red feathering on its head and white markings behind its eyes.
The diet of this species consists primarily of fruit, flowers and foliage. This species flocks in groups of up to 20 or more individuals. They can be a nuisance to farmers as they fly into farms and eat fruit that is intended to be sold or consumed by humans. Though through the process of consuming fruit they disperse the seeds and help forests continue to grow.
Turaco are known for building a flimsy nests. Most often two eggs are laid and incubated for roughly 24 days before hatching. Chicks fledge very quickly often in just about 30 days.
The first documentation of this species in the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) was in 1980. This species is currently housed in at least 40 AZA institutions. Though found in private collections in the United States, they are not common. The AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) does have an SSP (Species Survival Plan) which monitors breeding in zoos to ensure that there is a stable population in the United States. These breeding programs help to ensure that the species survives in case there is a problem with the wild population.
