Ross's Turaco Uganda: The Violet Bird of Kibale Forest
Ross's turaco (Tauraco rossae) is the most brilliantly coloured turaco in Uganda and one of the most visually striking forest birds in the whole of East Africa. At 40 centimetres from bill to tail and weighing around 230 grams, it is significantly smaller than the great blue turaco but compensates for the size difference entirely in intensity of colour: entirely brilliant violet-purple over the body and wings, with a vivid crimson-red flight feather panel that flashes with extraordinary effect in flight, a yellow bill, yellow orbital skin ring that stands out against the violet face, and a compact swept-back white-tipped crest that elevates in alarm and excitement. Against the deep green background of Kibale forest, Ross's turaco is genuinely shocking — the kind of bird that stops a first-time Uganda visitor mid-sentence and causes experienced birders who have seen it before to turn and look again.
Taxonomy and Naming
Ross's turaco was named in 1838 by the British zoologist William John Swainson in honour of Lady Mary Ross, wife of Admiral Sir John Ross. It is a member of the genus Tauraco, which contains most of the "green" and coloured turacos of the turaco family (Musophagidae). Within Uganda, the genus Tauraco is represented by three species: Ross's turaco, Rwenzori turaco (Tauraco johnstoni) and the black-billed turaco (Tauraco schuettii) of western lowland forests. Ross's is the most widespread and common of the three in Uganda's western forest zone.
Where to Find Ross's Turaco in Uganda
Ross's turaco is a forest and forest-edge species found in Uganda's western forest zone, predominantly at Kibale Forest National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the Budongo Forest Reserve. At Kibale, it is a common to very common resident throughout the park, most reliably encountered at the forest canopy edge and in fruiting trees along the park boundary and internal trails. Unlike the great blue turaco, which predominantly occupies the highest canopy tier, Ross's frequently descends to mid-canopy height (5 to 12 metres) and occasionally comes to the forest floor level on fallen fruits — making it accessible for excellent views without requiring binoculars in good light.
The most reliable specific area at Kibale is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary forest edge trail, where the combination of forest canopy and open wetland edge creates the habitat transition Ross's turaco particularly favours. Groups of 3 to 6 birds moving together through the forest edge are common at Bigodi during the fruiting season (March to May and September to October). The Kanyanchu Tourism Site at the park entrance also produces reliable sightings along the trails that traverse the forest-agriculture boundary.
Ross's Turaco Call and How to Locate It
The Ross's turaco call is a series of loud, harsh, descending kowh notes — louder and harsher than the great blue turaco's deeper ko-ko-koo, and with a slightly faster cadence. The call carries well through the forest and is one of the background sounds of any Kibale morning. Unlike the great blue turaco call, which is instantly recognisable as coming from a large bird, the Ross's turaco call is slightly higher-pitched and may initially be confused with alarm calls of large forest birds.
The key locating technique is to follow the call to the source tree and then scan slowly for movement in the mid-canopy. Ross's turaco moves deliberately rather than quickly, running along branches and pausing to feed rather than making continuous flight movements. Once you have the bird's position in the tree, it typically remains in the same tree for 5 to 15 minutes if undisturbed.
The Crimson Flight Feathers: What They Are and Why They Appear in Flight
All turacos share a characteristic not found in any other bird family: their red flight feathers contain the pigment turacin, a unique copper-based pigment that gives a saturated red colour unlike any other biological pigment. In Ross's turaco at rest, the crimson primaries are folded and largely concealed under the violet wing coverts. In flight, the primaries spread and the full crimson panel is visible from both above and below — a flash of brilliant red against violet that is startlingly visible even in forest light at 50 metres.
This crimson panel is visible even in the juvenile birds before they acquire the full adult violet plumage — juvenile Ross's turaco is duller overall but the red primaries are present from fledging. The combination of violet body and crimson wings is therefore diagnostic at all ages.
Ross's Turaco at Bwindi and Budongo
At Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ross's turaco occurs in the lower-altitude forest sectors (Buhoma and Rushaga) at 1,300 to 1,600 metres. At the higher Ruhija sector (2,350 metres), it is less common than the Rwenzori turaco and great blue turaco, which dominate the higher-altitude forest. At Budongo Forest Reserve near Murchison Falls, the species occurs in the main forest block and appears regularly at the Busingiro Tourism Site forest edge in the late afternoon when fruit-bearing trees near the clearing are active.
Breeding Biology and Nest Structure
Ross's turaco breeds in Uganda across two periods corresponding to the relatively drier months: June to August and December to January. The nest is a flat platform of twigs placed in a fork of a mid-canopy tree at 8 to 18 metres, loosely constructed in the manner typical of turacos. The female lays 2 eggs; both sexes incubate for approximately 23 days. Chicks fledge at 28 to 35 days and remain in a family group with adults for several months following fledging — explaining the regular Kibale sightings of groups of 3 to 5 birds that include juveniles and adults together.
Diet and Fruiting Tree Associations
Like all turacos, Ross's diet is predominantly fruit, supplemented by leaves, flowers and buds. At Kibale, the species shows strong associations with fruiting Ficus (fig trees), Chrysophyllum and Strombosia species. During peak fruiting, a single large fig tree may attract 4 to 6 Ross's turacos simultaneously — a spectacle of violet bodies moving through the canopy that can produce some of the best views the species offers. The yellow orbital ring and yellow bill are conspicuous against the dark green of the fig canopy even when the rest of the bird is partially hidden.
Photography Tips for Ross's Turaco
Ross's turaco at mid-canopy height (5 to 10 metres) is one of the most rewarding Uganda forest birds to photograph. The violet plumage reflects light strongly in direct sun — look for birds on exposed outer branches in fruiting trees just inside the forest edge where light penetrates. Camera settings: f/5.6 to f/8 at 1/400 to 1/800 second; ISO 800 to 1600 in good forest edge light. The crimson flight feather panel is best captured at the moment the bird launches into flight — position yourself to predict the flight direction toward the next fruiting tree and shoot in burst from the moment the wings open.
Conservation Status
Ross's turaco is classified as Least Concern by IUCN. Unlike some Albertine Rift forest species, it adapts reasonably well to degraded forest edges and secondary growth adjacent to primary forest. The Uganda population appears stable within the national park boundaries. However, the species does not thrive in heavily fragmented small forest patches and disappears from forest remnants under approximately 50 hectares.
Frequently Asked Questions: Ross's Turaco Uganda
What is the difference between Ross's turaco and Rwenzori turaco?
Ross's turaco is brilliant violet-purple with a yellow bill and yellow orbital ring. Rwenzori turaco is green with a distinctive red and white striped head pattern and occurs at higher altitudes (above 1,800 metres). They overlap minimally in Uganda and are not confusable in good views.
Where do the turaco red feathers come from?
The red colour in turaco flight feathers comes from turacin — a unique copper-based pigment found only in the turaco family and nowhere else in the animal kingdom. Unlike carotenoid pigments (used by most red birds), turacin is synthesised directly by the bird from dietary copper and cannot be obtained from food alone.
Is Ross's turaco easy to see at Kibale?
Yes — it is a regularly encountered canopy and mid-canopy species at Kibale. Most Kibale forest walks produce at least one sighting. It is less conspicuous than the great blue turaco by size, but is actually seen more frequently at accessible viewing heights.
Can Ross's turaco be seen on a single Kibale morning?
Yes — a 3 to 4 hour Kibale forest walk starting at 7:00am produces Ross's turaco on the majority of visits. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary forest trail and the Kanyanchu trail edge are the most productive specific areas.
Contact Shoebill Uganda Bird Tours to visit Kibale Forest and see Uganda's full turaco suite — great blue, Ross's, black-billed turaco and more on a single forest walk with our specialist guides.