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Guinea Turaco vs Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco persa versus Tauraco schalowi

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Play a quiz with Guinea Turaco and Schalow's Turaco

Guinea Turaco (Tauraco persa) Guinea Turaco
Schalow's Turaco (Tauraco schalowi) Schalow's Turaco

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In short

The most reliable field mark between Guinea Turaco and Schalow's Turaco is the crest: Schalow's shows a much longer, white-tipped crest, while Guinea Turaco's is shorter, all green, and lacks a white rear edge even in adults. In flight, both species show red primaries, but the facial pattern and crest shape are key when perched. Guinea Turaco has a thick red bill and bold red-and-white facial patches, while Schalow's has a smaller red bill, red skin around the eye, and a more subtle white facial line. Both are largely green with blue tails, but the details of the head and crest are the quickest way to separate them in the field.

Identification tips

  1. Crest shape and color: Schalow's Turaco has a very long, white-tipped crest—the longest among turacos—while Guinea Turaco's crest is shorter, all green, and lacks a white rear edge. This is the fastest field mark at any age.
  2. Facial pattern: Guinea Turaco shows bold red and white patches around the eye, often with a white line above and in front, and a black line below (especially in the western subspecies). Schalow's has red skin around the eye, lined with white feathers, but lacks the bold patchwork of Guinea.
  3. Bill: Guinea Turaco has a thick, robust red bill; Schalow's is smaller and more delicate, also red.
  4. Crest rear margin: Even adult Guinea Turacos never show a white rear edge to the crest, unlike some similar turacos; Schalow's always has a white-tipped crest.
  5. Upperwing in flight: Both species show crimson or red primaries in flight, so this is not diagnostic between them, but useful for confirming turaco group.
  6. Body bulk: Guinea Turaco is heavier and appears more robust, especially around the head and bill; Schalow's is lighter and more slender.
  7. Color tone: Guinea Turaco is a brilliant, uniform green; Schalow's is coppery-jade green, fading to dark iridescent blue towards the tail.
  8. Tail and wing color: Both have dark, iridescent blue tails and wings, so not useful for separation.
  9. Eye details: Guinea Turaco's eye is surrounded by red and white patches; Schalow's has red skin around the eye, with a thin white feather line.
  10. Subspecies variation: If you see a bird with a second white line below the black line under the eye, it's a central or southeastern Guinea Turaco; Schalow's never shows this.
  11. Voice: If you hear a loud, raucous 'cawr-cawr' call in a series, it's Guinea Turaco. Schalow's call is not described here.
  12. Flight jizz: Schalow's may look more elongated and less chunky in flight due to its long crest and lighter build.
  13. Bill thickness: The bill of Guinea Turaco is noticeably thicker and more prominent than Schalow's.
  14. Perched posture: Schalow's long crest often stands out even when the bird is at rest, making it look taller-headed than Guinea Turaco.
  15. Age/sex: No age- or sex-specific upperwing patterns are described for either species, so all tips above apply to adults and immatures alike.

Size

Guinea Turaco is distinctly heavier (297g vs 243g) and appears more robust, with a slightly longer body (about 40–43 cm) compared to Schalow's Turaco (about 38–43 cm, but lighter). Schalow's is described as light for a turaco and may appear more slender and elongated, especially due to its exceptionally long crest. Both have similar overall lengths, but Guinea Turaco feels bulkier, especially around the head and bill.

Plumage

Juvenile and immature-specific upperwing patterns are not described for either species, so separation relies on adult and general plumage. Both species are mostly green with blue tails and red primaries visible in flight. Guinea Turaco's green is brilliant and uniform, with a semi-circular green crest and prominent red-and-white facial patches. The western subspecies of Guinea Turaco shows a white line above and in front of the eye, a black line below, and sometimes a second white line below that. Schalow's Turaco is a coppery-jade green fading to dark iridescent blue towards the tail, and its most striking feature is the very long white-tipped crest (the longest among turacos), with red skin around the eye and a small red bill. Schalow's facial markings are more subtle, with white feather lines around the eye but lacking the bold red-and-white patches of Guinea. Both have red primaries, but Guinea's are described as 'crimson and very distinct in flight.'

Behaviour

Both species are typically inconspicuous in the treetops and move with short, bounding flights. Schalow's Turaco's short, rounded wings and long crest may make it appear more elongated and slightly less robust in flight or when perched. Guinea Turaco is described as more robust and may be slightly less agile, but both behave similarly in their preferred forest canopy habitats.

Voice

Guinea Turaco has a loud, raucous 'cawr-cawr' call, given in a series of 10–16 notes. No specific vocalization is described for Schalow's Turaco in these notes, so voice is only diagnostic for Guinea Turaco if the call is heard.

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The most reliable field mark between Guinea Turaco and Schalow's Turaco is the crest: Schalow's shows a much longer, white-tipped crest, while Guinea Turaco's is shorter, all green, and lacks a white rear edge even in adults. In flight, both species show red primaries, but the facial pattern and crest shape are key when perched. Guinea Turaco has a thick red bill and bold red-and-white facial patches, while Schalow's has a smaller red bill, red skin around the eye, and a more subtle white facial line. Both are largely green with blue tails, but the details of the head and crest are the quickest way to separate them in the field.

  1. Crest shape and color: Schalow's Turaco has a very long, white-tipped crest—the longest among turacos—while Guinea Turaco's crest is shorter, all green, and lacks a white rear edge. This is the fastest field mark at any age.
  2. Facial pattern: Guinea Turaco shows bold red and white patches around the eye, often with a white line above and in front, and a black line below (especially in the western subspecies). Schalow's has red skin around the eye, lined with white feathers, but lacks the bold patchwork of Guinea.
  3. Bill: Guinea Turaco has a thick, robust red bill; Schalow's is smaller and more delicate, also red.
  4. Crest rear margin: Even adult Guinea Turacos never show a white rear edge to the crest, unlike some similar turacos; Schalow's always has a white-tipped crest.
  5. Upperwing in flight: Both species show crimson or red primaries in flight, so this is not diagnostic between them, but useful for confirming turaco group.
  6. Body bulk: Guinea Turaco is heavier and appears more robust, especially around the head and bill; Schalow's is lighter and more slender.
  7. Color tone: Guinea Turaco is a brilliant, uniform green; Schalow's is coppery-jade green, fading to dark iridescent blue towards the tail.
  8. Tail and wing color: Both have dark, iridescent blue tails and wings, so not useful for separation.
  9. Eye details: Guinea Turaco's eye is surrounded by red and white patches; Schalow's has red skin around the eye, with a thin white feather line.
  10. Subspecies variation: If you see a bird with a second white line below the black line under the eye, it's a central or southeastern Guinea Turaco; Schalow's never shows this.
  11. Voice: If you hear a loud, raucous 'cawr-cawr' call in a series, it's Guinea Turaco. Schalow's call is not described here.
  12. Flight jizz: Schalow's may look more elongated and less chunky in flight due to its long crest and lighter build.
  13. Bill thickness: The bill of Guinea Turaco is noticeably thicker and more prominent than Schalow's.
  14. Perched posture: Schalow's long crest often stands out even when the bird is at rest, making it look taller-headed than Guinea Turaco.
  15. Age/sex: No age- or sex-specific upperwing patterns are described for either species, so all tips above apply to adults and immatures alike.

Guinea Turaco is distinctly heavier (297g vs 243g) and appears more robust, with a slightly longer body (about 40–43 cm) compared to Schalow's Turaco (about 38–43 cm, but lighter). Schalow's is described as light for a turaco and may appear more slender and elongated, especially due to its exceptionally long crest. Both have similar overall lengths, but Guinea Turaco feels bulkier, especially around the head and bill.

Juvenile and immature-specific upperwing patterns are not described for either species, so separation relies on adult and general plumage. Both species are mostly green with blue tails and red primaries visible in flight. Guinea Turaco's green is brilliant and uniform, with a semi-circular green crest and prominent red-and-white facial patches. The western subspecies of Guinea Turaco shows a white line above and in front of the eye, a black line below, and sometimes a second white line below that. Schalow's Turaco is a coppery-jade green fading to dark iridescent blue towards the tail, and its most striking feature is the very long white-tipped crest (the longest among turacos), with red skin around the eye and a small red bill. Schalow's facial markings are more subtle, with white feather lines around the eye but lacking the bold red-and-white patches of Guinea. Both have red primaries, but Guinea's are described as 'crimson and very distinct in flight.'

Both species are typically inconspicuous in the treetops and move with short, bounding flights. Schalow's Turaco's short, rounded wings and long crest may make it appear more elongated and slightly less robust in flight or when perched. Guinea Turaco is described as more robust and may be slightly less agile, but both behave similarly in their preferred forest canopy habitats.

Guinea Turaco has a loud, raucous 'cawr-cawr' call, given in a series of 10–16 notes. No specific vocalization is described for Schalow's Turaco in these notes, so voice is only diagnostic for Guinea Turaco if the call is heard.

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Guinea Turaco · Schalow's Turaco · My Tricky Birds