Musophaga violacea

(Isert, 1788)

Vernacular names
English : Violet turaco
French : Touraco violet

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Musophagiformes
Family : Musophagidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Plumage deep shiny violet-blue, nape and crest dark to bright red, white stripe under eye, naked red skin around eyes. Bright orange bill with bright yellow frontal shield.

Range and habitat
West Africa, from Senegal and Gambia to north Nigeria and north-west Cameroon. Found in gallery forests, forest edges, arid savannas and suburban parks, to 1000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is locally common to abundant. Populations from Ghana, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone are caught in large numbers for local and international bird trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Dallas World Aquarium (USA), Jurong Bird Park (Singapore), Zoo Antwerpen (Belgium), Weltvogelpark Walsrode (Germany)

 

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