Violaceous Turaco
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Violaceous turacos were named for their rich purple feathers. The only turaco species without a crest, these birds have a bright red bill, a yellow forehead, and a magenta crown. They primarily eat fruit, berries, flower buds, and insects.
Interesting Fact 1
Violaceous turacos aren’t the best flyers, but they easily navigate their forest habitat by running along branches aided by zygodactyl toes—their toes can move both forward and backward.
Interesting Fact 2
They are also known as “plantain eaters” thanks to their love of the African fruit.
Interesting Fact 3
Their vivid colors come from the bright red pigment turacin, which is prevalent in their diet.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
