White-cheeked turaco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids White-cheeked turaco
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Menelikornis
Species:	leucotis

The white-cheeked turaco (Menelikornis leucotis) is a beautiful bird from the Musophagidae family. It lives in parts of Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

This bird is about 43 cm (17 in) long, which includes its long tail of 19 cm (7.5 in). It weighs around 200–315 g (7.1–11.1 oz), which is about the same as a can of soda. Many people keep white-cheeked turacos as pets because they are the most common type of turaco raised by humans.

Where Do White-cheeked Turacos Live?

The white-cheeked turaco is originally from Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. These birds like to live in forests high up in the mountains. They prefer areas with Podocarpus and juniper trees.

Different Kinds of White-cheeked Turacos

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the white-cheeked turaco.

• M. l. leucotis lives in the Podocarpus forests of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and southeastern South Sudan.
• M. l. donaldsoni is found in south-central Ethiopia and a small part of Somalia. This type looks a bit different in color.

Sometimes, white-cheeked turacos can even breed with another bird called Ruspoli's turaco. This is interesting because Ruspoli's turaco is an endangered species.

White-cheeked Turacos as Pets

White-cheeked turacos are often kept by bird lovers. A special "cinnamon" colored turaco appeared in England. This unique color is now seen in pet turacos in other countries too.

Wild Turacos in the UK?

Believe it or not, a white-cheeked turaco has been living wild in east London, England! It was first seen in 2009. This bird, nicknamed ‘Bob’ by locals, survived the cold weather and other animals for many years. It seemed to get along well with the native birds. People think Bob was an escaped pet. Sadly, Bob was reported to have died in December 2023.

Other turacos have also been spotted living freely in different parts of the UK:

• One was seen in Langton Green, Kent, in 2014.
• Another was seen in Wimbledon, London, starting in 2016.
• A turaco with a ring on its leg was seen in Havant, Hampshire, in 2019, 2020, and 2023.
• In Cardiff, Wales, a ringed turaco nicknamed Mr. Hopkins has been seen since 2015 and was still alive in March 2024.
• A pair of turacos have been seen and photographed near Weymouth since early 2022.

These sightings show how tough and adaptable these birds can be!

Images for kids

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  A white-cheeked turaco at a bird park.

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  Another view of the white-cheeked turaco.

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  An older drawing of the donaldsoni subspecies.

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  A turaco perched on a branch.

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  Close-up of a white-cheeked turaco.

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  A turaco showing its bright colors.