Livingstone's turaco is a species of bird in the family Musophagidae, which was named for Charles Livingstone, the brother of David Livingstone.
Region
Southeast Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from coastal and eastern Tanzania south through Mozambique and Malawi into eastern Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and northeastern South Africa. It inhabits evergreen and riverine forests, coastal thickets, and well-wooded valleys, often along forest edges and gallery forests. The species favors tall, fruiting trees and dense canopy cover and will also use wooded gardens and plantations near native forest. It avoids open savannas and very arid zones but can persist in fragmented forest mosaics.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Livingstone's turaco is a striking green turaco named for Charles Livingstone, brother of explorer David Livingstone. Its vivid red primary feathers flash conspicuously in flight, a hallmark of turacos. The green and red colors come from unique copper-based pigments (turacoverdin and turacin) found only in turacos. It is an important seed disperser for many forest trees, especially figs.
Temperament
shy yet inquisitive; typically stays concealed in canopy foliage
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with gliding between trees
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and sometimes loose flocks at abundant fruiting trees. Monogamous pairs build a flimsy twig platform nest in dense vegetation. Clutches are typically two eggs; both parents incubate and feed the chicks. Territorial calling is common at dawn and late afternoon.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice is a series of loud, resonant, barking notes, often rendered as kow-kow or g’kaw g’kaw in accelerating sequences. Calls carry far through forest and are used for contact and territorial announcements.
