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,
occurring from Limpopo Province to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape,
marginally extending into the Western Cape. It generally prefers Afromontane forest and riverine forest in fynbos.
It feeds mainly on fruit, supplemented with seeds and
invertebrates. It does most of its foraging in the canopy of
trees, sometimes descending 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. It consists of a flimsy
platform of interlacing twigs, typically placed 3-9 m above ground in a tangle of
leaves, either in 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, becoming independent soon afterwards.
Threats
Not threatened, although its 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.
