One of Africa’s quirkiest and most entertaining birds, instantly recognizable by its soft grey plumage, crazy crest, and its unmistakable “go-away!” call that earned it its amusing name. Found mainly in the savannas, woodlands, and dry scrublands of southern Africa, especially in countries like Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the grey go-away-bird is a lively, social species that adds a lot of character to the African landscape.
This bird has a sleek, uniform grey body, long, floppy tail, stubby, slightly hooked beak, and a prominent fluffy crest on top of its head that it raises or flattens depending on its mood. Unlike its colorful, fruit-loving turaco relatives, the grey go-away-bird is more subdued in color but is equally lively in behavior.
Grey go-away-birds are highly social and are often seen in small flocks, noisily moving through trees and shrubs as they feed. They mainly eat fruits, leaves, flowers, and buds, but they are known to snack on the occasional insect. They are important seed dispersers, helping spread
the seeds of many native plants across the dry woodlands they call home.
Their famous “go-away” call is a nasal, whiny sound, and they often repeat it loudly and rapidly, especially when they spot a predator or anything unusual. Because of this, they act like living alarm systems — when a go-away-bird starts yelling, many other animals (and even people) know to stay alert!
Rather than flying long distances, grey go-away-birds prefer hopping and running along branches or making short, low flights. They often land clumsily, flaring their tails and flapping hard, which adds to their somewhat comedic reputation.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eswatini
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Frugivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
