Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus)
I’ve always known this bird as one of the Lourie family, but somewhere down the line it became a Turaco… so we will go with that. This bird 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 SiSwati Royal Family. I’ve never captured this bird in flight so I borrowed this photo from the web… thanks web…
This bird has a purple coloured crest above a green head, a red ring around their eyes, and a black bill. The neck and chest are green and brown. The rest of the body is purple, with red flight feathers.
But this bird is so damn difficult to capture on camera… well it is for me… I hear the other birds saying “Oh it’s easy!!” well not for me…
But this one did co-operate … for a change and I got some captures … finally… They live in moist woodland and evergreen forests, and they eat mainly fruits.
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
The purple definitely makes this bird stand out. Fascinated with what you share and teach us.
Thank you.. this is one of those I’ve struggled to capture…
What a beautiful bird and you’ve captured it so well bulldog. Thanks for sharing and for all the lovely info on it. I am learning more and more. 😀
Thanks Sonel… a toughy this was…
Oi, tell me about it. I just had a flower photoshoot session and I had to climb on top of things just to get the shots I wanted. LOL!
It really does look like a loerie! Is this similar to the Knysna loeries? I know they also have some red/orange coloured flight feathers with the olive green camo for when they’re sitting down to eat.
Bad news for you… the Knysna is no longer known as a lourie, it is now also a turaco… please don’t ask me why… I’ve known all the birds as louries for 55 odd years when I started birding… and now they decide to change the name…
Wow, he’s so gorgeous, bulldog. Love the colours of that crest. You did great job. 🙂
You must of had these down the Natal Coast AD… that was where I’d hoped to capture photos and in 6 years never got one…
They don’t come to my bit of garden, bulldog. I’ve probably seen them at the Bird Park, but I don’t remember that far back. 😀 Your pics of them are just as good as seeing them for real.
Amazing crown on this little fellow. Ya done good Bulldog! 🙂
Thanks LuAnn kept me working for too many years the blighter…
😀
Another colourful character for your collection. I like the purple punk hairstyle.
Thanks Brian… yep quite in fashion before the fad began…
Well however difficult it was to take the pictures, it was well worth the effort. The one that stands out for me is the 2nd one of the larger images (trip 218), the way its head is looking at you with the leaves just behind it.
Thanks Chris.. this is not a bird easily captured by anyone and even one of our top photographers says she still has not been able to get a photo after 30 years… so I was lucky and I do agree the second one is my favourite…
It’s almost like two different birds. Wishing you luck that you catch one in flight. This one likes to eat
Thanks TBM.. has taken me till now in my life to capture these photos… hope to get one in flight before I die… damn it is not a cooperative bird… just when you’ve got yourself positioned near a tree where you can see it but not photo it, you know it’s about to fly over your head, then the SOB turns 180 and goes the other way…
How beautiful!
Thanks Julie…
Also it is a weird bird!
Now thats some bird you got Bulldog. Awesome pictures – well done! BTW,
I hope to get a pic of “Coo” and that you could identify the species? See my Facebook page posting.
Thanks Keith.. I see you have inherited a bird, take the photo and put it on FB link me and I’m sure you will have a ID either from me or someone on the net…
They certainly hide their red “flight” feathers well when they are not flying!
Russ
So true Russ… take a look at this photo in the link..
http://robertsonline.co.za/bird/21310/21310-3.asp
O my goodness, what a gorgeous bird. I love the different colors.
Thanks Maralee… it is one of those birds you want to capture in flight, but the light must be just right to get the red wing… take a look at this photo in the link…
http://robertsonline.co.za/bird/21310/21310-3.asp
When I traveled around Amazon, there was this one river where you’d go down on it for a few miles until this vast tree area. Around 5 pm, you can see hundreds of red birds coming home from their rendez-vous. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen, that first picture reminded me of it.
First time visiting your blog, I liked it!
Keep up the good work.
— Thay
Thank you Thay.. for the visit and the comment… there is so much beauty in our birds if we just take the time to look up and see them… and of course there is more pleasure when one can capture them with a camera… thank you again…
I had never seen one so beautiful
Thanks Doris… it has such colours but is not easy to capture in good light that shows it off…
It is great feeling to get lucky with photographing these birds I think,
You’re so right Alex… that feeling of achievement is wonderful…
E’ bellissimo e tu hai fatto foto veramente stupende 🙂
Ciao, Pat
Thank you Patrizia… much appreciated…
What a beauty!
thanks Chris
Gorgeous shots!!!!
Thanks Cee…
Unique and beautiful.
Thank you
Stunning shots there. Still going to have to get my head around the new names for birds
I’ve given up on the names now… just when I think I’ve got it right they change them again…
Thanks mate, if it wasn’t for you taking these fantastic photos I’d never know these beautiful creatures existed. You don’t get them up our way.
Thanks Danny… glad you’re enjoying…
Beautiful photos bulldog! I am always struck by the brilliant colours!
Thanks Diana…
What a beautiful bird. I love the third picture down. Great capture…..and yours blows the web one away. Although, I know you wanted to show one in flight, I like yours much better! 😀
Thank you Skye… I reckon I could get a better one in flight if the bird would only cooperate… lol
🙂
This is amazing bird. The colours fascinated me. Thank you dear Rob, love, nia
Thanks Nia…
They look so different and cute. no wonder they play hard to get
They are so beautiful in flight… but I have as yet not managed to capture one… the rest of the time I feel they hide in the trees to frustrate me…