The Hartlaub’s Turacos
(Tauraco hartlaubi) have been at the Great Rift Valley Lodge since mid-November
2018, having flown in from the neighbouring Eburru forest during the recent
drought. The colourful turacos love to feed on the fruits of the Chinese berry,
the Rhus natalensis, pepper tree and fig tree.
The turacos are in the bird family Musophagidae (literally ‘banana-eaters’),
which includes plantain-eaters and go-away birds. In southern Africa both
turacos and go-away birds are commonly known as loeries.
They are semi-zygodactylous. This means that the fourth
(outer) toe can be twitched back and forth. The second and third toes, which
always point forward, are conjoined in some species.
The turacos are noted for peculiar and unique pigments
giving them their bright green and red feathers.
They are medium-sized arboreal birds endemic to sub-Saharan
Africa, where they live in forests, woodland and savanna.
Their flight is weak, but they run quickly through the tree
canopy. They feed mostly on fruits but will also eat leaves, buds and flowers,
occasionally taking small insects, snails, and slugs.
As their name suggests, turacos enjoy bananas and can become
tame as to be hand-fed. They are also partial to grapes and pawpaw (papaya).
They build large stick nests in trees, and lay 2 or 3 eggs.
The young are born with thick down and open or nearly-open eyes.
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