Birds of the World

Musophagidae : Turacos

Violet Turaco

Musophaga violacea

The Gambia - January 2003

The brilliant red colour found in the plumage of most turacos (just visible on the crown of this bird due to the intense backlighting) is caused by uroporphyrin 111. This copper-containing organic compound is found nowhere else in the entire Animal Kingdom.