Ross's Turaco vs Livingstone's Turaco
Musophaga rossae compared with Tauraco livingstonii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ross's Turaco | Livingstone's Turaco |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Musophaga rossae | Tauraco livingstonii |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.9 cm (17.7 in) | 36.6 cm (14.4 in) |
| Weight | 396.1666666666667 g (13.97 oz) | 314.75 g (11.10 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on figs, berries, and forest fruits in Central Africa. Supplements with flowers and occasional … | Frugivore of East African coastal forest; feeds on figs, wild berries, and drupes. Occasionally takes … |
| Clutch Size | 1-2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Ross's Turaco
Loud, melodic call with musical quality; rich harmonious notes with yellow-billed clarity carrying through forest.
Livingstone's Turaco
Loud, melodious call with rich resonant quality; musical notes building in harmonious sequence through highland forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ross's Turaco
Found in tropical forests across Central and East Africa from Cameroon to Kenya. Resident in forest canopy.
Livingstone's Turaco
Found in forests of East Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe. Resident in coastal forest.
Conservation Status
Ross's Turaco
Livingstone's Turaco
How to Tell Them Apart
Ross's Turaco
Large Green-billed Malkoha: green above; pale buff below; large green bill; bare red facial skin; long green-glossed tail; large size
Livingstone's Turaco
Pied Cuckoo: bold black and white patterned; black above; white below; black crest; long white-tipped dark tail; crested cuckoo
About These Birds
Ross's Turaco
A large turaco (50-54 cm) found in tropical forests across Central and East Africa. Deep violet-blue plumage with a bright crimson crest and crimson flight feathers. Yellow face and bill. Frugivore of forest canopy. Named after Sir John Ross, the Arctic explorer.
Livingstone's Turaco
A medium-sized turaco (40-43 cm) found in forests of East Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique. Green plumage with a rounded green crest tipped white and crimson wing patches. Frugivore of coastal and montane forest. Named after the explorer David Livingstone.