Schalow's Turaco
Tauraco schalowi
Spectacular green, crested turaco. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in forest and dense woodland. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees, and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes. Similar to Livingstone’s and Knysna Turacos, but minimal overlap in range, and has a longer crest and a purplish tail.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tauraco schalowi
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1891)
- Order
- Musophagiformes
- Family
- Musophagidae
- Genus
- Tauraco
Range and habitat
It is distributed mainly in Zambia, central Angola, the southern DRC, and the uplands of southern Kenya, northern and western Tanzania and western Malawi. It occurs very locally in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where it frequents riparian habitats of the Zambezi and Cuando Rivers. It occurs in the forested uplands and wooded inland plateaus of south central Africa. It is replaced in the eastern lowlands by Livingstone's turaco, which is comparable in appearance and behavior.[citation needed]
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red Fody
Foudia madagascariensis
Sparrow-like weaver in which scarlet breeding males are distinctive, but females and non-breeding females very drab. Found in virtually all habitats except the interior of thick forest. Often found in flocks, sometimes mixed with other birds. Calls are high, silvery notes, given in long series as a song. Can be very similar to Forest Fody. Breeding male Red Fody has red on the back and belly, though molting males can match the pattern of Forest Fody. Females and non-breeding males very similar, but Red Fody is paler and less greenish, with a smaller bill. Unlike Forest Fody, not found in the rainforest interior. Separated from female and non-breeding male Sakalava Weaver by smaller size, smaller bill, and different facial markings.
Black-hooded Sierra Finch
Phrygilus atriceps
Attractive small “finch” that is actually a tanager of the high Andes; found in villages, agricultural terraces, scrubby slopes, and bogs. Associates readily with other small seed-eating birds and in some places is tame and acclimated, begging for food at picnic sites. Handsome male is striking and distinctive with a golden back and plain dark wings (compare with smaller siskins). Female and immature are duller, but dark slaty hood and golden tones to back are distinctive. Compare with Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch to south and Peruvian Sierra-Finch to north.
Pale-breasted Spinetail
Synallaxis albescens
Small, long-tailed bird that tends to stay hidden. Difficult to see well unless singing, when it can perch more conspicuously. Overall pale gray-brown with rufous wings and crown. Similar to Slaty Spinetail but paler especially on the throat. Found in weedy, tangled undergrowth in fields and edges of secondary growth. Distinctive song: a harsh sneezing “achoo…achoo…achoo” repeated over and over.
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