Schalow's turaco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schalow's turaco |
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| In captivity | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Musophagiformes |
| Family: | Musophagidae |
| Genus: | Tauraco |
| Species: |
T. schalowi
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| Binomial name | |
| Tauraco schalowi (Reichenow, 1891)
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| Distribution of the Schalow's turaco | |
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The Schalow's turaco (scientific name: Tauraco schalowi) is a beautiful bird. It mainly eats fruit, which means it's a frugivore. This bird belongs to a family called Musophagidae. Its name honors Herman Schalow, a German banker who loved studying birds.
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What Makes Schalow's Turacos Special?
Schalow's turacos are quite light birds. They weigh about half a pound (270 grams). These birds are about 15 to 17 inches long. Their feathers are a shiny coppery-jade green. This color changes to a dark, shimmering blue near their tail.
They have long, white-tipped crests on their heads. Their beaks are small and red. Around their dark eyes, they have red skin with white feathers. Adult Schalow's turacos have the longest crests of all turaco species. Their wings are short and round. They have bright red feathers that help them fly short distances.
Where Do Schalow's Turacos Live?
You can find Schalow's turacos mainly in Zambia. They also live in central Angola and the southern DRC. These birds are found in the highlands of southern Kenya. They also live in northern and western Tanzania and western Malawi.
Sometimes, you can spot them in Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. In these areas, they prefer places near rivers like the Zambezi and Cuando River. They live in forests in the uplands. They also like wooded areas on inland plateaus in south-central Africa. A similar bird, Livingstone's turaco, lives in the eastern lowlands.
What Do Schalow's Turacos Eat?
Schalow's turacos mostly eat fruit. They also eat other parts of plants. When they are young chicks, they eat more insects. These birds usually feed in large groups. They are very social, except when they are nesting.
The Life Cycle of Schalow's Turacos
Schalow's turacos protect their nesting areas. A single pair of birds will build a nest and raise their young. Both parents share the job of sitting on the eggs. This incubation period lasts for 20 to 22 days.
They usually lay only two eggs. The nest is built high up in the trees. It is like a flat platform. After 2 to 3 weeks, the chicks are strong enough to climb out of the nest. They start flying about 1 to 2 weeks after that.
 | Georgia Louise Harris Brown |
 | Julian Abele |
 | Norma Merrick Sklarek |
 | William Sidney Pittman |
