The great blue turaco is Africa’s largest turaco and one of the most spectacular birds you can see in Uganda — at up to 75 centimetres in length and 1 kilogram in weight, it is a substantial bird, and its plumage is extraordinary: deep turquoise-blue upperparts, yellow-green breast, red and yellow bill, and a large upright crest that it raises when alarmed, making it unmistakable as it bounds through the forest canopy of western Uganda. Kibale and Bwindi are the primary sites on any Uganda safari for this bird.
- Scientific name: Corythaeola cristata — the sole member of its genus; Africa’s largest turaco
- Size: 70-75cm; wingspan approximately 90cm; weight 0.9-1.2kg; the largest turaco species by a significant margin
- Uganda sites: Kibale Forest NP, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Budongo Forest, Semuliki NP, Mabira Forest
- Identification: deep turquoise-blue with yellow-green breast; large black-tipped blue crest; red and yellow bill; unmistakable
The great blue turaco is Africa’s largest turaco and one of the most spectacular birds you can see in Uganda. At up to 75 centimetres in length and 1 kilogram in weight, it is a substantial bird, and its plumage is extraordinary — deep turquoise-blue upperparts, yellow-green breast, red belly, and a tall blue crest tipped with black. When you first see a great blue turaco in Bwindi or along the Albertine Rift forest edge, it is genuinely breathtaking.
Unlike smaller turacos which can be frustratingly elusive as they creep through forest canopy, the great blue turaco is relatively conspicuous — partly because of its size and partly because it often sits in prominent positions in large trees. In 2027 this is one of the most sought-after bird sightings for visitors to Uganda’s forest areas.
Identification and Plumage
The great blue turaco’s plumage uses the unique turaco pigments — turacin (red) and turacoverdin (green) — which are copper-based and unlike the structural colours of most birds. The upperparts, wings, and long tail are deep turquoise to blue-green. The breast and belly transition from yellow-green to rich red. The tall crest is blue with a black tip. The bill is thick and yellow with a red tip.
In flight the turquoise and red underwings are spectacular — a flash of colour in the forest canopy. The large size and distinctive shape — long tail, thick neck, prominent crest — make the great blue turaco identifiable at considerable distance even without seeing the full plumage details.
Where to See Great Blue Turaco in Uganda
The great blue turaco is found in forest and forest edge habitats throughout western Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is one of the best locations, particularly around the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors where forest edges and fruiting trees concentrate the birds. Kibale National Park and the forests of the Rwenzori foothills also hold good numbers.
The species favours large trees in primary and mature secondary forest. It is often seen moving along forest edges and into fruiting trees near clearings. Early morning visits to forest edges when the birds are active and moving give the best sighting opportunities. The calls — a deep, resonant “koww-koww-koww” — help locate birds in the forest.
Diet and Forest Ecology
The great blue turaco feeds primarily on fruit, leaves, flowers, and buds. It is particularly fond of figs and other forest fruits and plays an important role in seed dispersal through the forest. Unlike many frugivores, turacos also consume considerable quantities of leaves — their digestive system is adapted to process plant material that other birds cannot digest.
The species moves through the forest in search of fruiting trees, often in small groups of two to six birds. Its large size means it can access larger fruits than smaller turaco species. The great blue turaco is a keystone species in Albertine Rift forests — its seed-dispersal activities help maintain forest structure and diversity.
Social Behaviour and Calls
Great blue turacos are social birds, moving in family groups and gathering in numbers at fruiting trees. They communicate with a repertoire of loud calls including deep booming notes and rapid cackling. When disturbed they run rapidly along branches and through the canopy rather than flying, using their strong feet to grip and their long tail for balance.
The deep calling of a group of great blue turacos echoing through Bwindi’s forest is one of the unforgettable sounds of a Uganda safari. Even before you see the birds, the calls build anticipation. When a group finally emerges from the canopy into clear view, the experience rarely disappoints.
Breeding
Great blue turacos nest in trees, building a flat platform of sticks and plant material in the forest canopy. Two eggs are incubated by both parents for about 21 days. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge at about 4 weeks. Family groups may remain together for an extended period after breeding. The breeding season in Uganda is linked to fruit availability in the rainy seasons.
Photography Tips
The great blue turaco is one of the most photogenic birds in Africa. The challenge is the dark forest setting — the birds are often encountered in dappled shade or backlit against the sky. Use exposure compensation to expose for the bird rather than the bright background. Early morning at forest edges when birds move into open positions gives the best opportunities with good light.
A 300 to 500mm lens is appropriate — the birds are large enough that you do not always need extreme telephoto reach. Look for birds perched in dead trees or at the very tips of branches at forest edges. The crest is most prominent when the bird is alert and looking around — wait for this posture for the most striking portraits.
See the Great Blue Turaco on Your 2027 Gorilla Trek
The gorilla trekking permit costs $800 in 2027. Great blue turacos are found in the same forests as mountain gorillas in Bwindi and are regularly seen on the forest paths used for gorilla trekking. Adding a dedicated birdwatching day or two at Bwindi maximises your chances of extended views and photography opportunities with this spectacular species.
Contact us to plan your 2027 Uganda safari combining gorilla trekking with specialist birdwatching targeting the great blue turaco and other Albertine Rift forest specials. Uganda’s forests offer some of the finest birding experiences in Africa.
Where is the best place in Uganda to see the great blue turaco?
The great blue turaco is found in the medium and low-altitude forests of Uganda. Kibale Forest NP: the best Uganda site; the Kanyanchu trail system gives regular views of this species in the forest canopy and flying across clearings; easy to find with a guide. Budongo Forest: en route to Murchison Falls; great blue turaco is common in the Budongo Forest Reserve; a half-day birding stop at Budongo regularly produces this species. Bwindi Forest: present at Bwindi at lower altitudes; Buhoma sector is better than the higher Ruhija sector for this species. Mabira Forest: the Mabira Forest near Jinja on the Kampala-Jinja road holds great blue turaco; accessible as a day trip from Kampala. Semuliki NP: the lowland Congo forest of Semuliki has the species at its eastern range; combined with the unique Semuliki endemic birds. Likelihood of sighting: very high in Kibale; this is not a difficult bird to see in the right forest; most visitors to Kibale see it.
How does the great blue turaco compare to other turaco species in Uganda?
Uganda has several turaco species and the great blue stands apart. Great blue turaco: 75cm; blue and green; the largest; no red in the wing. Ross’s turaco (Lady Ross’s): 42cm; entirely violet-purple with yellow face and red crown; found in western Uganda forests including Kibale and Budongo; one of Africa’s most colourful birds. Black-billed turaco: 45cm; green with red wing patch; found in forest from eastern DRC; present in Semuliki NP. Purple-crested turaco: 44cm; green body; purple crest; brilliant red wing patch in flight; found at forest edge and woodland. White-cheeked turaco: an Albertine Rift specialty; found at Bwindi; green with white cheek patch; sought by birders in southwest Uganda. The Uganda turaco list: a birder covering Kibale, Bwindi, Budongo, and Semuliki can realistically see 5-6 turaco species in a 2-week Uganda trip.
What is the great blue turaco’s call and how do you find it?
The great blue turaco is loud and not difficult to locate once you know its call. The call: a deep, resonant, cow-like booming call “kowp kowp kowp” or “koo-koo-koo”; very distinctive and carries far through the forest; once learned, unmistakable. Group calling: family groups of 3-8 birds call together; a chorus in the early morning is one of the great sounds of the Uganda forest. Finding strategy: listen for the call from the forest edge or from a clearing; once a calling bird is located, move toward the sound; the bird is large enough to be visible in the canopy through gaps. Flight viewing: great blue turacos frequently fly across clearings and roads within the forest; the flight is distinctive — a series of flaps then a glide with the long tail fanned; blue and green flash clearly in crossing flight. Best time: early morning is most active; groups call and move through the canopy at dawn.
What does the great blue turaco eat and how does it live?
The great blue turaco is a specialised forest frugivore. Diet: primarily fruit; also leaves, flowers, and buds; the turaco is one of the few birds that can detoxify certain plant compounds; this allows it to eat fruits and leaves that are avoided by other animals. Foraging behaviour: moves through the mid-canopy and upper canopy; clambers like a squirrel through branches using feet and bill; the zygodactyl feet (two toes forward, two back) allow it to grip branches in any direction. Social structure: lives in family groups of 3-10 individuals; cooperative breeding may occur with helpers at the nest; groups maintain large territories in the forest. The turaco pigments: uniquely, turacos have copper-based green (turacoverdin) and red (turacin) pigments found in no other bird family; the green colour of the great blue turaco is produced by turacoverdin.
Is the great blue turaco endangered and what are the threats to it?
The great blue turaco is currently Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its broad distribution across African forest zone. Range: from Guinea in West Africa east through Congo Basin to Uganda; also Rwanda, Burundi, and western Kenya; a large range but strictly forest-dependent. Threats: forest clearance is the primary threat; the great blue turaco will not survive without substantial forest cover; it does not adapt to degraded or agricultural land. Uganda situation: Uganda’s national parks and forest reserves protect the key populations; Kibale, Budongo, and Bwindi hold the largest Uganda populations; deforestation outside protected areas has reduced the range in unprotected forest. Hunting: locally hunted for food and in some areas for feathers used in ceremonial headdresses; not a major factor in Uganda where it is a protected species. Ecotourism role: the great blue turaco is a flagship species for forest conservation; its presence and visibility in Kibale Forest contributes to the economic case for forest protection.
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