Ross' Turaco
Musophaga rossae
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderMusophagiformes (Turacos)
- FamilyMusophagidae (Turacos)
- GenusMusophaga
- SpeciesMusophaga rossae (Ross' Turaco)
About the Ross' Turaco
Ross's turaco or Lady Ross's turaco (Tauraco rossae) is a mainly bluish-purple African bird of the turaco family, Musophagidae. This species expresses very little sexual dimorphism, with both males and females being the same deep shade of blue with red head crowns and flight feathers. Females can have slightly more yellow-green beaks while males always have a bright yellow, with both having a forehead shield that flares to a medium orange. Their wings are round and short, best for short bursts of powered flight. They have black legs with three forward facing toes; with a fourth toe being semi-zygodactylous, which makes them nimble canopy dwellers. Size can vary from 15 to 18 inches and weigh just under one pound. They are considered very sturdy birds that can live anywhere from 8 to 20 years. Sources on life spans tend to vary.
This bird is mostly found in woodlands, open forest and riparian habitats in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. They generally avoid heavily forested areas and their numbers remain strong despite the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Ross' Turaco in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 2 | Akagera National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 3 | Lake Mburo National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 5 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 7 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 8 | Nyungwe National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 9 | Semuliki National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 10 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 11 | Kafue National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 12 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 13 | Volcanoes National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 14 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 15 | Kidepo Valley National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 16 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ross' Turaco in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ross' Turaco sighting in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, based on 227 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ross' Turaco in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Ross' Turaco in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in our monthly data.