Western Plantain-eater vs Eastern Plantain-eater
Crinifer piscator compared with Crinifer zonurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Western Plantain-eater | Eastern Plantain-eater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crinifer piscator | Crinifer zonurus |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 370.0 g (13.05 oz) | 541.0 g (19.08 oz) |
| Diet | Frugivore of West African savanna; feeds on figs, berries, and pods in gallery and riparian … | Go-away-bird feeding on berries, figs, and acacia pods across East African savanna. Supplements with flowers, … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Western Plantain-eater only
Eastern Plantain-eater only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Western Plantain-eater
Loud, far-carrying kwow repeated insistently; harsh nasal calls audible at considerable distance across forest.
Eastern Plantain-eater
Loud, screaming call with harsh coarse quality; piercing repeated notes audible well across dense forest canopy.
Geographic Range & Migration
Western Plantain-eater
Found in savanna and woodland across West Africa from Senegal to Cameroon. Resident in open habitats.
Eastern Plantain-eater
Found in savanna and woodland across East and Central Africa from Sudan to Mozambique. Resident.
Conservation Status
Western Plantain-eater
Eastern Plantain-eater
How to Tell Them Apart
Western Plantain-eater
Running Coua (large): large gray-brown coua; pale below; bare blue-green facial skin; long graduated tail; fast-running Madagascar bird
Eastern Plantain-eater
Giant Coua: large; dark blue-gray overall; pale below; brilliant bare blue facial skin; long white-tipped dark tail; largest coua
About These Birds
Western Plantain-eater
A large turaco (50-54 cm) found in savanna and woodland across West Africa. Grey-brown plumage with a shaggy crest. Frugivore of fig trees and other fruiting woodland trees. Named plantain-eater though rarely eats plantains. Conspicuous and noisy.
Eastern Plantain-eater
A large turaco (50-55 cm) found in savanna and woodland across East and Central Africa. Grey-brown plumage with a shaggy crest and yellow bill. Frugivore of woodland trees. Named plantain-eater though diet consists mainly of wild fruits and berries.