Lady Ross’s Turaco (Musophaga rossae) is a stunning bird that graces the forests and woodlands of East Africa with its presence. With its bright green and maroon plumage, distinctive white and red bill, and a majestic crest of feathers atop its head, the Lady Ross’s Turaco is a sight to behold.
This medium-sized bird belongs to the turaco family, Musophagidae, and can be found in various habitats, including woodland, open forest, and riparian areas, across several African countries. Its range spans from Angola, Botswana, Burundi, and Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Lady Ross’s Turaco boasts a unique combination of features that make it truly captivating. With its long tail and broad, round wings, it possesses remarkable agility in flight. The bird’s feet are specialized, with three toes pointing forward and the fourth toe capable of rotating forward or backward, a trait known as semi-zygodactylous. Males and females may exhibit slight differences in appearance, with females often having a greenish beak.
One of the most distinctive features of the Lady Ross’s Turaco is its vocalizations. Its call sounds like a distinctive “g’way,” which has earned it the colloquial name “Go-away bird.” These vocalizations are often heard echoing through the African woodlands, adding to the allure of this majestic creature.
When it comes to nesting, Lady Ross’s Turacos lay a clutch of two eggs and engage in shared parental responsibilities. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs, and they also feed the downy chicks through regurgitation. Remarkably, the parents keep the nest clean by consuming the eggshells and the chicks’ droppings. The chicks will gradually develop their full adult coloration over the course of about a year.
These social birds are known for moving in small, noisy flocks, spending their days among the trees in search of fruit. However, in the evenings, they nest solitarily on platforms made of twigs. Lady Ross’s Turacos possess mobile outer toes, which they can rotate forward or backward, allowing them to move with agility and grace through their arboreal habitat.
As for their diet, Lady Ross’s Turacos primarily consume plants and fruit, but they may occasionally indulge in insects. In captivity, they thrive on a diet of Supreme fruit pellets, fruit, and the nutrient-rich Paradise Earth Insect Blend.
The Lady Ross’s Turaco’s presence in the woodlands and forests of East Africa is a testament to the region’s rich biodiversity and natural beauty. As they move through the treetops with their resplendent plumage, these birds remind us of the wonders of nature and the importance of preserving these precious habitats for generations to come.
