Violet Turaco 

species name: Musophasa violacea

Photographs cannot even begin to show the beauty of  the metallic violet plumage and deep red accents that this bird possess. It sits beautifully perched on a piece of driftwood that is attached to a 2 inch thick solid walnut base with a realistic habitat. This piece would be a great addition to anyone's collection.   

 

 DESCRIPTION

        Violet Turacos are colorful, long-tailed birds with unusually silky plumage. Main body and tail color is metallic purple, with red on top of head, red on lower edges of wings, and a white horizontal stripe under the orange eyelids. Heavy bill is yellow with orange at the tip and has a horny plate extending from the upper mandible to the forehead. Violet Turacos are found in West Africa from Gambia and Senegal east to Cameroon. They inhabit the open woodland, riverine forest, and humid forest edge. They live in lower lying territories and only seldom venture above altitudes of 1000 meters.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The green color of the plumage of many turaco species does not result, as it does in most other green-plumed birds, from the physical structure of the feathers, but from a green pigment peculiar to turacos called turacoverdin (or tracin). While violet turaco magnificent shimmering plumage does contain the green turaco pigments, these are mostly covered by dark melanins. The red in the plumage is produced by a copper-based pigment called turacin, also peculiar to turacos. Thus, a red primary feather will when mixed with water, dye the liquid red. The bird's main call is a long series of deep, gargling cou-cou-vhou notes that run into each other, producing a pulsing roar when two birds call in a slightly asynchronous duet.

    

 

 

Dimensions

The bird dimensions are 15 inches long. The overall dimensions are 18 inches tall by 16 inces wide.

This Bird was legally acquired through a zoo mortality. It is not protected under any laws or acts governing the sales or possessions of  birds or bird mounts in the United States and is totally legal to sell within the USA. Additionally, this bird will come with proper documentation.

Shipping is via Federal Express Ground and is $35.00 total for the shipping and handling in the lower 48. Cannot ship or sell internationally. 

Payment methods accepted are: Paypal, money order, or personal check (with a personal check there will be a 10 day hold on shipping the item)

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