Purple-crested Turaco (Lourie).

The Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus) is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family. It is found in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.


They live in moist woodland and evergreen forests. They eat mainly fruits.

The Purple-crested Turaco is the National Bird of the Kingdom of Swaziland. The crimson flight feathers of this and related Turaco species are important in the Ceremonial Regalia of the Saswati Royal Family.

It was listed in 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species… It is quite common on the South Coast of Natal, where I managed to capture these photos.. but it is a shy bird and although you hear them they are difficult to capture in flight and in the trees as they choose dense foliaged trees to sit in… In five years these are the only photos I got.. although they spent a lot of time in the trees on our property..

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