Black-billed turaco
The black-billed turaco (Tauraco schuettii) is a medium-sized turaco, an endemic family to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a resident breeder in the forests of central Africa, found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, West Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
| Black-billed turaco | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Musophagiformes |
| Family: | Musophagidae |
| Genus: | Tauraco |
| Species: | T. schuettii |
| Binomial name | |
| Tauraco schuettii (Cabanis, 1879) | |
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| Distribution of the black-billed turaco | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The bird is 40 cm (16 in) long; ranging in weight from 199–272 g (7.0–9.6 oz). Adult similar to green turaco, distinguished by small all-black bill and rounded whitish crest. It lays two eggs in a platform of twigs around 3 to 5 m (9.8 to 16.4 ft) above the ground. Both the male and female defend a territory and share incubation duties.
Its call is a distinctive feature of the forests of the Congo, a resonant kwah khaw kwah. In areas where its range overlaps with the Rwenzori turaco it will aggressively respond to the calls of that species.
It is a widespread species and is not threatened globally (CITES II).
References
- BirdLife International (2012). "Tauraco schuetti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Del Hoyo, Elliott and Sargatal (editors), Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol 4, ISBN 84-87334-22-9