Western Plantain-eater vs Black-billed Turaco
Crinifer piscator compared with Tauraco schuettii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Western Plantain-eater | Black-billed Turaco |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crinifer piscator | Tauraco schuettii |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) | 33.3 cm (13.1 in) |
| Weight | 370.0 g (13.05 oz) | 238.25 g (8.40 oz) |
| Diet | Frugivore of West African savanna; feeds on figs, berries, and pods in gallery and riparian … | Frugivore feeding on figs, berries, and drupes in forest canopy. Occasionally takes flowers, leaves, and … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Western Plantain-eater only
Black-billed Turaco only
Song & Call Comparison
Western Plantain-eater
Loud, far-carrying kwow repeated insistently; harsh nasal calls audible at considerable distance across forest.
Black-billed Turaco
Loud, far-carrying musical call; rich resonant notes with clear quality echoing through highland East African forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Western Plantain-eater
Found in savanna and woodland across West Africa from Senegal to Cameroon. Resident in open habitats.
Black-billed Turaco
Found in lowland forests of Central Africa from Cameroon to Uganda and DRC. Resident in primary forest.
Conservation Status
Western Plantain-eater
Black-billed Turaco
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
Black-billed Turaco
Squirrel Cuckoo: rich rufous-brown above; pale buff below; long graduated rufous tail; yellow orbital ring; neotropical species
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.
Black-billed Turaco
A medium-sized turaco (40-42 cm) found in lowland forests of Central Africa from Cameroon to Uganda. Glossy blue-black plumage with green body, white face markings, and crimson wing patches. Frugivore of primary forest canopy. Named after the German ornithologist Moritz Schütt.