Great Blue Turaco
Corythaeola cristata
LCLeast Concern
- Length
- 70–76 cm
- Family
- Turacos (Musophagidae)
- Order
- Musophagiformes
Overview
The great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata) is a bird species of the family Musophagidae. At 70–76 cm (28–30 in) in length, it is the largest species of turaco. It has predominantly grey-blue plumage with an upright blue-black crest around 10 cm (3.9 in) high. The male and female have similar plumage. It is widespread throughout the African tropical rainforest.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Fruit, leaves and flowers.
How to identify it
- Largest turaco: turquoise-blue with a black crest
- Yellow-green lower breast and chestnut belly
- Yellow bill with a red tip
Voice
Loud guttural 'kok-kok-kok' calls.
Where to see it
- Kakamega Forest, Kenya
- Kibale, Uganda
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Lowland rainforest of western and central Africa.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Great blue turaco
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
