The black-billed turaco is a medium-sized turaco, an endemic family to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a resident breeder in the forests of central Africa, found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, West Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
Region
Central Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and montane evergreen forests of the Congo Basin and the Albertine Rift, including riverine forests and mature secondary growth. Frequently uses forest edges and gallery forests where fruiting trees are abundant. Most activity is in the mid to upper canopy, with occasional forays into clearings to reach fruiting shrubs. It ranges through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Altitude Range
600–2200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Turacos possess unique copper-based pigments: turacoverdin gives their true green and turacin produces the crimson in their wings. Black-billed turacos are important seed dispersers for many forest trees, especially figs. They are typically shy in dense canopy but can become confiding around fruiting trees.
Pl. II Remarques sur l'ornithologie de l'État indépendant du Congo.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats followed by glides between trees
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups moving quietly through the canopy. Monogamous pairs build a flimsy twig platform and typically lay two eggs. Both parents incubate and feed the chicks, which leave the nest early and climb through branches with agility.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Loud, resonant series of barking kow-kow or kwa notes that carry far through the forest. Pairs often duet, and calls accelerate and rise slightly in pitch when excited.
