another, they begin making preparations for starting a family. Together, the pair builds a flat nest of loosely arranged twigs. The female lays one to two spherical eggs that are grayish-white to bluish-green in color, depending on the species. Although their parents provide food and protection for some months after hatching, turaco chicks become quite active at about two to three weeks old. Even though they can’t fly yet, the bold youngsters often clamber out of the nest and exercise their legs as they explore surrounding branches. By the time a chick makes its first flight at about four to five weeks old, its leg muscles are strong, and it has learned to use its tail for balance—both just as important to a turaco as flying. Young turacos may remain with their parents even after they are able to feed themselves. They act as helpers, bringing food to the nest for subsequent siblings. They also aid in protecting the parents’ territory, consisting of a core area where the birds feed and roost and a peripheral area that seems to serve as a buffer zone. Of course, in addition to trying to keep others out of their own territory, the turacos also make attempts to surreptitiously slip in to feed in another group’s area. Between trying to raid other territories and protecting their own—all while gathering enough food—turacos are busy birds!
Ross’s turaco
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