The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the turacos, also includes the cuckoos.

The turacos make up the bird family Musophagidae (literally "banana-eaters"), which also includes plantain-eaters and go-away-birds. In southern Africa both turacos and go-away-birds are commonly known as louries. The Go-away-birds and plantain-eaters are mainly gray and white. The turacos on the other hand are brightly coloured birds, usually blue, green or purple. Musophagids often have prominent crests and long tails. They are gregarious birds that do not migrate. Many species are noisy, with the go-away-birds being especially noted for their piercing alarm calls.

Musophagids are medium-sized arboreal birds endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in forests, woodland and savanna. Their flight is weak, but they run quickly through the tree canopy. They feed mostly on fruits and to a lesser extent on leaves, buds, and flowers, occasionally taking small insects, snails, and slugs Contrary to what the names might suggest, they generally do not eat bananas or plantains .


Genus Corythaeola - 1 species

Turaco, Great Blue  Corythaeola cristata   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Sandy Cole - San Diego Zoo   2) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  3, 4) Dick - San Diego Zoo


Genus Corythaixoides

Go-away-bird, Bare-faced Corythaixoides personatus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) DIck Daniels - Tanzania  2) Dick - Tanzania


Go-away-bird, Grey  also Gray Lourie Corythaixoides concolor  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes  2) Sandy Cole - Kruger National Park, South Africa  3) Sandy - North Carolina Zoo
    4) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden 


Go-away-bird, White-bellied Corythaixoides leucogaster   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1)  Alastair Rae - Buffalo SPrings NP, Kenya  2) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  3) Dick - Tanzania



Genus Crinifer

Plantain-eater, Western  Crinifer piscator  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Sandy Cole - Birds of Eden, South Africa  2) Sandy - Birds of Eden



Genus Musophaga

Turaco, Ross's  Musophaga rossae    Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Ed Schipul - Houstan Zoo  2) Ryan Poplin - Columbus Zoo


Turaco, Violet  Musophaga violacea  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Jacksonville Zoo  2, 3) Dick - Birds of Eden, South Africa



Genus Tauraco

Turaco, Green also Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Sandy Cole - Birds of Eden, South Africa  3) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden

Turaco, Hartlaub's  Tauraco hartlaubi  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Birds of Eden, South Africa  3) Dick - Birds of Eden  4) Dick - World of Birds, South Africa


Turaco, Knysna  also Knysna Lourie Tauraco corythaix   Found: Africa
Photographed by: Kerron


Turaco, Livingstone's  Tauraco livingstonii  Found: Africa
Photographed by: OpenCage



Turaco, Purple-crested Tauraco porphyreolophus   Found: Africa
Photographed by 1, 4) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  2) Sandy Cole - World of Birds, South Africa  
    3) Dick - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo 


Turaco, Red-crested  Tauraco erythrolophus  Found: western Angola
Photographed by Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo