The purple-crested turaco is endemic to Southeastern Africa and is the national bird of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Its habitats of choice are moist woodlands, evergreen thickets, and riparian growths (vegetative areas adjacent to waterbodies), but they have since adapted well to suburban life.

Both sexes have brilliant glossy plumage with an iridescent dark-violet crown. Moreover, their flight feathers are crimson red in color, which they incorporate into their main courting display by spreading their wings.

They are large fruit-eating birds that often consume whole fruits and regurgitate the seeds intact elsewhere, aiding in many plants’ seed dispersal. They have poor flight; being primarily arboreal, they can be seen expertly gliding from canopy to canopy.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Burundi

2016

Eswatini

2016

Kenya

2016

Malawi

2016

Mozambique

2016

Rwanda

2016

South Africa

2016

Tanzania

2016

Uganda

2016

Zambia

2016

Zimbabwe

2016