a comprehensive resource of avian nutrition research for captive bird populations

Great Blue Turaco

Corythaeola cristata

Cuculiformes - Musophagidae - Turacos

Great Blue Turaco - Great Blue Turaco

© L Peat

Great Blue Turaco - Great Blue Turaco

Wild diet: Largely fugivourous, but buds, shoots, leaves and flowers also taken. Favoured fruits of Musanga, Cissus, Polyalthia, Heisteria, Ficus, Dacryodes, Pachypodanthium, Uapaca, Stombosia, Trichilia, Drypetes, Viscum, Beilschmiedia, Coelocaryon, Croton and Pycnanthus. Some insects also taken. In Kenya eats fruits of Bridelia micrantha, Cordia abyssinica, and when available large quantities of loquats and guavas, also fruits of Olea welwitschii and Ficus thonningii and flowers of Markhamia platycalx.

Feeding strategy: Leaves are readily eaten throughout the day, but leaf-eating particularly pronounced in the evening. Reguritated leaves fed to nestlings.

Wild weight ranges: 822-1231g

References

Wild data

Candy, M. (1984) Habits and breeding biology of the Great Blue Turaco.J East Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc & Natl. Mus. 180: 1-19.

Del Hoya, J., Elliott, A, & Sargatal, J. eds. (1997) Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol.4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Effectiveness of three turacos as seed dispersers in a tropical montane forest. >

Gautier-Hion, A. & Michaloud, G. (1989).  Are figs always keystone resources for tropical frugivorous vertebrates?  A test in Gabon.  Ecology, 70(6), 1826 - 1833. >

Sun, C., and T.C. Moermond 1997. Foraging Ecology of Three Sympatric Turacos in a Montane Forest in Rwanda. Auk 114 : 396 – 404. >

Sun, C., Moermond, T.C. & Givnish, T.J.  (1997).  Nutritional determinants of diet in 3 turacos in tropical montane forest.  The Auk, 114(2), pp200 - 211. >

Captive data information

Examples of diets in use

Please note these diets are examples of diets in use by individuals and institutions for your information. This information may not have been scientifically proven, but is compiled here to give individuals an informed view from other people's knowledge and experiences.

Diet from Old House Bird Gardens, UK

View Old House Bird Gardens, UK diet file >

Diet established 2008
Have these birds bred successfully on this diet Yes

Any Nutritional related health issues experienced whilst using this diet
None


Please keep us up-to-date and contact us with your own updates or new diets used for the Great Blue Turaco.

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