The Lady Ross’s turaco, or Ross’s turaco for short, is a lovely African bird that is mostly blue-purple in color. It’s part of the Musophagidae family, also known as turacos.
The bird described is commonly found in woodlands, open forests, and riparian habitats across several countries including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. They steer clear of dense forested regions but are able to maintain their population despite the threat of habitat destruction caused by agricultural expansion. These birds do not typically migrate and tend to remain within their birthplace vicinity, although they may venture further in search of sustenance if it is scarce in their immediate surroundings.
Feeding Habits:
The avian species under discussion primarily thrive on fruits, flowers, and seeds of cultivated and wild plants, indicating their frugivorous diet. These birds are known for their exceptional ability to spread seeds, which makes them one of the most prominent seed dispersers in their habitat. Additionally, they are also inclined towards feeding on tiny insects such as termites and snails, particularly during the nesting season. Interestingly, their family name ‘Musophagidae’ is derived from the phrase “plantain eater,” which is not entirely accurate since these birds rarely feed on banana or plantain trees. In fact, they have a special liking for figs. However, due to their opportunistic feeding behavior, they can be a nuisance in some areas where they tend to cause damage to crops and gardens.
The Ross’s turaco bird is known for its monogamous breeding habits, with pairs sharing the responsibilities of incubation and feeding. Their nests usually contain 2 to 3 eggs, which take approximately 25 days to hatch. After that, the chicks stay with their parents for another 4 to 7 weeks before they are ready to leave the nest. Interestingly, they tend to become independent before they can even fly and spend their time climbing around in the forest canopy. These birds reach sexual maturity at around one year of age and often form extended family flocks of up to thirty individuals, staying close to their parents. Within these flocks, members assist in raising each other’s chicks, particularly when the mother is a first-time parent. During breeding season, Ross’s turacos become more territorial, especially towards unfamiliar or predatory birds.
The captivity of birds is a common practice, though not as frequent as their relative, the violet turaco. In zoos, these birds are fed a diet consisting of oranges, apples, mangoes, pears, papayas, bananas, and softbill diet pellets. They are easy to care for in captivity due to their preference for climbing rather than flying, which requires less space. These birds are robust and breed easily, living longer lives than their wild counterparts. Some people keep them as pets, but they can be challenging to find outside of breeding from captive parents. Purchasing wild-caught birds may result in parasitic or illness infections and an unfavorable response to human interaction. Conversely, birds bred in captivity are accustomed to human presence and care, develop a natural resistance to illnesses, and possess a friendly personality from birth.
The Ross’s turaco can be found in various zoos and botanical gardens worldwide, loved by both visitors and caretakers for their vibrant hues, resilience, and friendly demeanor.
