Great Blue Turaco: Uganda's Most Colourful Bird
The great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is the largest and most spectacular turaco in the world. At up to 75cm long with vivid turquoise-blue and yellow plumage, a bold crest and brilliant red primary feathers revealed in flight, it is one of the most instantly recognisable birds in Uganda and a highlight of any Uganda birding tour.
Behaviour and Habits
Great blue turacos are noisy, social and conspicuous — the opposite of Uganda's many secretive forest species. They move through the forest canopy in groups of 3 to 8 birds, feeding on fruit and the leaves of forest trees. Their loud, deep, croaking call carries far and announces their presence from a distance. In flight the brilliant red wing flash is unmistakable. They are surprisingly agile in the canopy, running along horizontal branches with raised crest.
Best Sites for Viewing and Photography
Entebbe Botanical Gardens is the top site for close, well-lit views of great blue turaco — birds sit in the open canopy of large trees accessible to photographers. Kibale Forest offers abundant birds along the main trail. Bwindi, Semuliki, Maramagambo Forest and forest patches throughout western Uganda all hold the species. The wet season (March-May) is excellent as birds are more active and the green vegetation provides photogenic backgrounds.
Other Uganda Turacos
Uganda holds 7 turaco species: great blue turaco, Ross's turaco, black-billed turaco, white-crested turaco, Rwenzori turaco, eastern grey plantain-eater and bare-faced go-away bird. Seeing all 7 is an achievable goal on a well-planned Uganda birding tour. Contact us to target Uganda's complete turaco list.