These beautiful birds with their explosive calls are common in gardens, Parks and Riverine forests around St Lucia and in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.


They are less gregarious than the Livingstone’s turaco and usually occur singly or in pairs (occasionally gathering in trees with abundant fruit).


They tend to avoid dune forest probably to avoid being ‘mobbed’ or bullied by the larger groups of Livingstone’s turaco- unless they are lured by a fruiting fig tree (their favourite fruit).


In St Lucia they are synonymous with fruiting Large-leaves figs and Wild plum.


Typical turaco’s, they are very nervous and usually hop or fly nervously away once they realise they are being observed