Eastern Plantain-eater vs Violet Turaco
Crinifer zonurus compared with Musophaga violacea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Eastern Plantain-eater | Violet Turaco |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crinifer zonurus | Musophaga violacea |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 541.0 g (19.08 oz) | 360.0 g (12.70 oz) |
| Diet | Go-away-bird feeding on berries, figs, and acacia pods across East African savanna. Supplements with flowers, … | Frugivore feeding on figs, berries, and drupes in West African forest. Occasionally takes flowers, leaves, … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Eastern Plantain-eater
Loud, screaming call with harsh coarse quality; piercing repeated notes audible well across dense forest canopy.
Violet Turaco
Loud, deep booming call with resonant quality; powerful low-frequency notes carrying impressively across forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Eastern Plantain-eater
Found in savanna and woodland across East and Central Africa from Sudan to Mozambique. Resident.
Violet Turaco
Found in West African forests from Senegal to Cameroon. Resident in lowland and gallery forest.
Conservation Status
Eastern Plantain-eater
Violet Turaco
How to Tell Them Apart
Eastern Plantain-eater
Giant Coua: large; dark blue-gray overall; pale below; brilliant bare blue facial skin; long white-tipped dark tail; largest coua
Violet Turaco
Raffles's Malkoha: green above; pale buff below; red-tipped bill; bare red orbital skin; long graduated dark tail; Asian malkoha
About These Birds
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.
Violet Turaco
A large, spectacular turaco (48-50 cm) found in West African forests from Senegal to Cameroon. Brilliant glossy violet-purple plumage with a large red bill and bright crimson wing patches. Frugivore of forest canopy. One of the most vibrantly colored African birds.