Knysna Turaco

Tauraco corythaix

South Africa's southern and eastern forests, from Knysna to KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini. An Afromontane indicator species.

Population: Not separately quantified by IUCN/BirdLife with a numeric global figure; described as common/locally common and locally abundant across its range, with a stable-to-declining trend depending on source (BirdLife DataZone factsheet itself did not render for direct trend confirmation)
Habitat: Mature evergreen (Afromontane) and riverine forest, coastal/inland forest from sea level to ~1,800m, forest edge, and dense coastal (fynbos-adjacent) bush; also well-wooded gardens and parks near forest
Fun fact: The Knysna Turaco's crimson flight feathers get their color from turacin, a copper-based pigment unique to turacos — one of only two true structural-free pigments in birds (with green turacoverdin) — vivid enough that a feather stirred in a glass of water will tinge it pink.
Range: Endemic to southeastern South Africa (from the southern Western Cape through the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo Province) and northwestern Eswatini; two subspecies (nominate T. c. corythaix in the south, T. c. phoebus in the northeast); sedentary/non-migratory
Diet: Primarily a frugivore — gleans wild figs, wild plums, berries, and mistletoe fruit (over 50 native plant species), plus cultivated/alien-tree fruit; supplemented with seeds and invertebrates (insects, earthworms)
Size: 0.41 m
Lifespan: 14 years

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