Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix Scientific name definitions
Revision Notes
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Afrikaans | Knysnaloerie |
Catalan | turac de Knysna |
Czech | turako přílbový |
Dutch | Knysnatoerako |
English | Knysna Turaco |
English (United States) | Knysna Turaco |
French | Touraco louri |
French (France) | Touraco louri |
German | Helmturako |
Icelandic | Hjálmdofri |
Japanese | エボシドリ |
Norwegian | natalturako |
Polish | turak niebieskozielony |
Russian | Шлемоносный турако |
Serbian | Knisna turako |
Slovak | turako kapucňový |
Spanish | Turaco de Knysna |
Spanish (Spain) | Turaco de Knysna |
Swedish | knysnaturako |
Turkish | Nayzna Turakosu |
Ukrainian | Турако-книсна |
Revision Notes
In this partial revision, the Sounds and Vocal Behavior section was revised by Peter F. D. Boesman.
Tauraco corythaix (Wagler, 1827)
Definitions
- TAURACO
- corythaix
- Corythaix
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
Despite its vocal nature and bright green plumage with a rounded, white-tipped crest, the Knysna Turaco is more often heard than seen. This species occupies coastal and inland evergreen forest, from sea level to 1,800 meters, and is locally common from the southern Western Cape to northeastern South Africa and northwestern Eswatini. Knysna Turaco was formerly considered conspecific with Schalow's Turaco (T. schalowi) and Livingstone's Turaco (T. livingstonii), but it differs in plumage (1), genetics (2, 3), and vocalizations (4). Vocal differences were an important argument in treating these taxa as separate species, with Knysna Turaco having an advertisement call consisting of more notes and delivered at a much faster pace than Schalow's Turaco (4). Differences in advertisement call with Livingstone's Turaco are less obvious, but comparison of entire vocabulary suggests clear differences in secondary vocalizations.
Field Identification
Length 45–47 cm. Mass male 280–380 g, female 262–350 g. Adult has rounded, erectile, “helmet-like” crest green, tipped white ; head , neck, breast , and mantle bright green; tail, rump, back, scapulars, and wing coverts dark metallic green with emerald and violet-blue glosses; belly and undertail coverts dull blackish, washed with green; remiges bright crimson with blackish tips; white stripe from gape to top of eye is separated from one running under eye to ear coverts by small black loral patch; eye brown, orbital ring red; bill orange-red; legs blackish. Immature duller than adult, less red in wings, crest shorter and bill olive-brown.
Systematics History
Formerly considered conspecific with T. schalowi and T. livingstonii, but plumage and genetics (2, 3), and vocal differences (4, 1) support recognition as full species. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies
Knysna Turaco (Northern) Tauraco corythaix phoebus Scientific name definitions
Systematics History
Tauraco corythaix phoebus (Neumann, 1907) [type locality = De Kaap, Barberton district, Transvaal].
Distribution
Northeastern South Africa (eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga) and northwestern Eswatini.
Identification Summary
Subspecies <em>T. c. phoebus</em> is similar to T. c. corythaix, though with more intense steel-blue gloss on back and wings.
Tauraco corythaix phoebus Neumann, 1907
Definitions
- TAURACO
- corythaix
- Corythaix
- phoebus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Knysna Turaco (Southern) Tauraco corythaix corythaix Scientific name definitions
Systematics History
T. c. corythaix (Wagler, 1827) [type locality = Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, South Africa].
Distribution
Eastern and southern South Africa from western Kwazulu-Natal south to southern Western Cape.
Identification Summary
T. c. corythaix is similar to T. c. phoebus, though with blackish green gloss on back and wings.
Tauraco corythaix corythaix (Wagler, 1827)
Definitions
- TAURACO
- corythaix
- Corythaix
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Southern and eastern portions of South Africa from southern Western Cape to northeastern South Africa (eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga) and northwestern Eswatini.
Habitat
Coastal and inland evergreen forest from sea level ( , ) to 1,800 m.
Movement
Mainly sedentary throughout its range.
Diet and Foraging
Although primarily a fruit-eater , particularly favoring Rothmannia capensis, Rapanea melanophloeos, Apodytes dimidiata, and Olea capensis, will also eat with impunity the fruits of bushman's poison (Acokanthera spectabilis), which are highly toxic to mammals. Also takes seeds, leaf buds of Bauhinia and Ficus, and flowering heads of the cabbage-tree (Cussonia). In captivity, total fruit intake was 124 g per day, and parents actively searched for insects and earthworms during chick-feeding stage, but not at other times.
Vocalizations
Vocal Development
Little information. Chicks make mewing sounds (5).
Vocal Array
Advertisement call. Main call a series of 10–25 raucous cawing notes, initially faint with short notes, then louder and slightly faster, delivered at a mean pace of ~2.5–3 notes/second. When calling, the head is pushed forward, the bill is opened briefly with each note, while throat and breast are inflated and the full body is moving at the rhythm of the calls.
Kekekek. A short burst of rather high-pitched overslurred kek notes are given at a pace of about 6‒8 notes/s. Kek notes are also given singly.
Chorus. When several birds are vocalizing together in an excited chorus, birds utter a continuous series of cawing notes while other birds utter kek notes (the two elements which form the basis for the two previous vocalizations).
Grumble. A very faint staccato series of low-pitched guttural notes, sounding like a rattled grumble. Only audible at close range.
Grunt. A short guttural rattle or growl grrrrrr, only audible at close range.
Other. An adult on nest with hatched chicks hissed loudly when disturbed (1).
Geographic Variation
Has not been studied in detail, but advertisement call of both races with disjunct distribution very similar. Knysna Turaco was previously considered conspecific with Schalow's Turaco and Livingstone's Turaco, but vocal differences were an important argument in treating these taxa as separate species, with Knysna Turaco having an advertisement call consisting of more notes and delivered at a much faster pace than Schalow's Turaco (4, 1). Differences in advertisement call with Livingstone's Turaco are less obvious, but comparison of entire vocabulary suggests clear differences in secondary vocalizations.
Phenology
Little information. Presumably vocal all year with increased activity during the breeding season (1).
Daily Pattern of Vocalizing
Mainly calls in early morning and towards dusk, but can be heard at other moments of the day as well. Calling from one bird prompts vocal responses from neighboring individuals.
Places of Vocalizing
Typically calls from within the canopy of trees, remaining well concealed; however, in early morning or at sunset, may call from conspicuous perches atop emergent branches of tall trees (1).
Sex Differences
No known differences.
Social Content and Presumed Functions of Vocalizations
Little information. Advertisement call presumably for territorial defense, while kekekek call is given in excitement or alarm. Grumble and grunt evidently for short range communication between members of a pair or group. Both sexes have been heard to make such calls when together at a nest under construction (1).
Nonvocal Sounds
None documented.
Breeding
Breeds November–January and June–July in southern and eastern Cape Province, and August–November in Natal. Nest a shallow platform of sticks, much like that of a large dove (Columbidae), ~2–9 m above ground in leafy tree or among dense creepers. Lays 2, occasionally 3, smooth white eggs; incubation 23–26 d, by both sexes; young fed by regurgitation, remain in nest for 22–26 d, making first flight at 28–35 d, but dependent upon parents for several weeks more.
Conservation Status
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. A fairly common resident over much of its range, but the ever-shrinking extent of coastal forests in Cape Province and adjacent areas will ultimately affect the population of nominate subspecies T. c. corythaix (6).