Tauraco corythaix
The Knysna Turaco, or Knysna Lourie, is a very colourful bird inhabiting the evergreen montane and riverine forests of southern and eastern South Africa (from the Garden Route through the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal to the escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo), extending marginally into Swaziland. Knysna Louries feed mainly on fruit, with seeds and insects making up only a small proportion of its diet. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern although it may be locally impacted by uncontrolled deforestation.
Often heard long before it is seen (its loud kok-kok-kok call being a familiar sound in the forests it inhabits), these beautiful birds are commonly encountered in the Garden Route National Park, though getting decent photographs of them in their dense and dark habitat can prove tricky! Adult Knysna Turacos grow to a length of 46cm and weigh up to 350g.
Both parents are involved in building the nest, which is little more than a flimsy platform of sticks and twigs among dense foliage, and incubating the clutch of one or two eggs for just over 3 weeks. The chicks grow quickly, start practicing to fly before they are a month old, and stay with their parents until they’re about 3 months old. Their breeding season stretches almost throughout the year, but peaks from September to December.
DeWetsWild 
I would love to see this one some day!!
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Be sure to book a few days in the Garden Route, and you are sure to come across them!
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Beautiful!
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They’re a real treat for the eyes!
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Very well camouflaged there in the greenery!
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Surprisingly so for such a large and noisy bird!
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Incredibly beautiful and unusual looking birds. Wonderful images, de Wets.
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Thank you very much, Jane!
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The green color of this Knysna Turaco must make it hard to spot, and yet you were able to get excellent photos of it! Very impressive!
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Thans Hien. For such a large and vocal bird they are excellent at hiding!
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Nice find!
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Spent a good while chasing them around the Garden Route!
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Can only imagine. I still need to find one too.
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They have very wise facial expressions. I have Purple Louries frequenting my garden but no Knysna Louries, unfortunately. Great photos.
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You are very lucky to have the beautiful purple louries visit you garden, Kim!
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Jy het daardie rooi flerts van sy vlerke so goed vasgevang! My allergunsteling uit die hele veervolk.
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Hulle is darem pragtig Tannie Frannie, en wat sou Knysna se boose wees sonder hul tok-tok-tok?
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Sjoe jy was gelukkig om hierdie mooi voël te kon fotografeer! Dis darem pragtig, Dries.
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Baie dankie, Dina. Ek sou graag nog n paar fotos van hulle wou kry, maar sjoe dis moeilik!
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Ek kon nog nooit een fotografeer nie!
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Dan ag ek myself baie gelukkig!
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Beslis!
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Quite a distinctive crest.
janet
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The crest is a distinctive feature shared by the entire turaco family (and except for the go-away birds they are all extremely colourful).
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Wow, what a beautiful bird.😊 It does not resemble any other bird, almost looking to come from the dinosaurs time.
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They’re exceptionally beautiful, John, but so shy and therefore very tricky to get a good photo of!
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