Ross's Turaco vs Black-billed Turaco
Musophaga rossae compared with Tauraco schuettii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ross's Turaco | Black-billed Turaco |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Musophaga rossae | Tauraco schuettii |
| Order | Musophagiformes | Musophagiformes |
| Family | Musophagidae | Musophagidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.9 cm (17.7 in) | 33.3 cm (13.1 in) |
| Weight | 396.1666666666667 g (13.97 oz) | 238.25 g (8.40 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on figs, berries, and forest fruits in Central Africa. Supplements with flowers and occasional … | Frugivore feeding on figs, berries, and drupes in forest canopy. Occasionally takes flowers, leaves, and … |
| 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.
Black-billed Turaco
Loud, far-carrying musical call; rich resonant notes with clear quality echoing through highland East African forest.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ross's Turaco
Found in tropical forests across Central and East Africa from Cameroon to Kenya. Resident in forest canopy.
Black-billed Turaco
Found in lowland forests of Central Africa from Cameroon to Uganda and DRC. Resident in primary forest.
Conservation Status
Ross's Turaco
Black-billed 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
Black-billed Turaco
Squirrel Cuckoo: rich rufous-brown above; pale buff below; long graduated rufous tail; yellow orbital ring; neotropical species
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.
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.