Purple-crested Turaco vs Red-crested Turaco
Gallirex porphyreolophus compared with Tauraco erythrolophus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-crested Turaco | Red-crested Turaco |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gallirex porphyreolophus | Tauraco erythrolophus |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.2 cm (14.3 in) | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) |
| Weight | 264.6666666666667 g (9.34 oz) | 267.5 g (9.44 oz) |
| Diet | Frugivore feeding on figs, berries, and drupes in forest canopy. Occasionally takes flowers, leaves, and … | Feeds on forest fruits, figs, and berries in Angolan forest canopy. Supplements diet with flowers … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Purple-crested Turaco
Loud, resonant cooing-screams with musical quality; rich carrying calls echoing through montane Rwenzori forest.
Red-crested Turaco
Loud, musical call with resonant carrying quality; rich melodic notes echoing through dense West African forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Purple-crested Turaco
Found in woodland and forest edges of eastern and southern Africa from Kenya to South Africa. Resident.
Red-crested Turaco
Found in open woodland and forest edges of Angola and adjacent areas. An Angolan near-endemic.
Conservation Status
Purple-crested Turaco
Red-crested Turaco
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-crested Turaco
Red-breasted Coua: brilliant rufous-red breast; gray head; olive-brown above; bare blue facial skin; long tail; Madagascar endemic
Red-crested Turaco
Scale-feathered Malkoha: scaly-patterned feathers; dark green above; buff below; bare red orbital skin; long dark tail; scaled texture
About These Birds
Purple-crested Turaco
A medium-sized turaco (42-47 cm) found in woodland and forest edges of eastern and southern Africa. Brilliant green plumage with a glossy purple crest and crimson wing patches containing the unique pigment turacin. Frugivore. One of Africa's most beautiful birds.
Red-crested Turaco
A medium-sized turaco (43-47 cm) found in open woodland and forest edges of Angola and adjacent areas. Green plumage with a prominent red crest tipped white. Crimson wing patches. Frugivore of woodland and forest edge trees. An Angolan near-endemic.