Knysna Lourie

Groenvlei, Western Cape, South Africa

The Knysna lourie, or turaco, is resident in mature, evergreen forests of southern and eastern South Africa and Swaziland. It is an arboreal species, usually seen flying between forest trees, or hopping along branches.

Feeding

The knysna lourie forages in the tree canopy mainly on fruit, supplemented with seeds and invertebrates. On occasion it will descend to feed on bushes in fruit.

Breeding

Both males and females construct a flimsy platform of interlacing twigs in a dense tree foliage or in creepers usually between three and nine metres above the ground. One or two eggs are incubated by both parents who also share the raising of the chicks.

Wildfile Specials

• Although called louries in South Africa, they are known as turacos internationally.
• Turacos are the only birds whose red and green colours are not a reflection produced by the structure of the feathers. The turacos' red and green pigments, known as turacin and turacoverdin respectively, contain copper and a feather dipped in water will turn pink!
• The Knysna Lourie is believed to use its red wing feathers to distract predators in flight.  When it lands the red patches are invisible and this confuses the predator.