White-cheeked turaco

Firstly i apologize for the lack of posts in the last week, i have been on a mountain with no wi-fi. i will be posting more regularly now.

White-cheeked turaco
Tauraco leucotis

Origin: Ethiopia, Sudan

A mid sized (25inch) bird from the Musophagidae family. They are often called ‘banana eaters’.

This member of the family is a forest inhabitant, it is generally found 2200m above sea level feeding
on fruit and plant material. It will also take small insects and other invertebrates. They tend to hop and bounce around the limbs of trees with short direct bursts of flight.

The most commonly kept species of turaco, mainly due to their buoyant personality. Being very curious  they will become used to their keepers and will tame down with time. White-cheeked turaco will breed readily once a pair have bonded laying two eggs in a nest made of loose sticks.

Yes this is a picture of its legs, more importantly of its feet. Most birds have one position for their toes either, three facing forward and one back, or two facing forward and two back. The Musophagidae family are able to have their toes in both positions enabling them to hop through the canopy with ease. I think i am correct in saying this is the only family capable of doing this.

These are one of my favorite characters in the animal area as they have become so friendly. And i really hope they breed for us here at the Japanese Koi Company.