The Knysna turaco is endemic to South Africa and
Swaziland, with most of its population concentrated in coastal Eastern Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal, occurring in Afromontane forest and riverine forest in fynbos. It
feeds mainly on fruit, with seeds and invertebrates making up the rest of its
diet. The nest is built by both sexes, and is a flimsy platform of twigs, placed
in thick tangles of leaves. It lays 1-2 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes,
for 20-24 days. The chicks stay in the nest for about 22 days, after which they
clamber around the surrounding branches. They attempt their first flight at
about 28 days old, becoming independent a few week after this.
Distribution and habitat
Endemic to South Africa and Swaziland,
with most of its population concentrated in coastal Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,
occurring in Afromontane forest and riverine forest in fynbos.
It feeds mainly on fruit, with seeds and
invertebrates making up the rest of its diet. It mainly forages in the canopy of
trees, although it sometimes descends to fruiting bushes and shrubs. The
following food items have been recorded in its diet:
The nest is built by both sexes, with one collecting material and then
giving it to the other, who then puts it into the nest. This is a flimsy
platform of interlacing twigs, placed 3-9 m above ground, in the tangle of
leaves either on the outer branches of trees, or in creepers.
Egg-laying season is roughly from May-February.
It lays 1-2 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes, for 20-24 days.
The chicks stay in the nest for about 22 days, after which they clamber
around the surrounding branches. They attempt their first flight at about 28
days old, and soon after this they become independent.
Threats
Not threatened, but population is locally impacted by
deforestation.
References
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ and Ryan PG 2005. Roberts
- Birds of southern Africa, VIIth ed. The Trustees of the John Voelcker
Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.
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