Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Turacos are one of my all time favorite birds! They have two pigments found only in turacos that give them some exquisite colors. Their green color comes from the pigment turacoverdin, the only known green pigment found so far in birds. The brilliant red, especially under their wings is the pigment turacin again found only in turacos. In all other birds the red is the result of carotene.They get their name from the piercing alarm calls they make which alerts other animals to possible predators. . Turacos live in Southern Africa and are in one of the only two families endemic there. (The other family is mousebirds.)
We've seen them in South Africa's Kruger National Park. If you haven't already hope you see one soon!
Turacos are one of my all time favorite birds! They have two pigments found only in turacos that give them some exquisite colors. Their green color comes from the pigment turacoverdin, the only known green pigment found so far in birds. The brilliant red, especially under their wings is the pigment turacin again found only in turacos. In all other birds the red is the result of carotene.They get their name from the piercing alarm calls they make which alerts other animals to possible predators. . Turacos live in Southern Africa and are in one of the only two families endemic there. (The other family is mousebirds.)
We've seen them in South Africa's Kruger National Park. If you haven't already hope you see one soon!
