Livingstone's Turaco vs Schalow's Turaco

In short

The most reliable field mark to separate Livingstone's Turaco from Schalow's Turaco is the crest: Schalow's Turaco has a notably long, white-tipped crest, the longest among turacos, while Livingstone's Turaco's crest is shorter and less prominent. When perched, look for the length and shape of the crest and the overall coloration—Schalow's shows a coppery-jade green fading to iridescent blue toward the tail, while Livingstone's is more uniformly green. Both species have red flight feathers, but Schalow's Turaco is lighter and smaller-bodied. Immature or flying birds are rarely confused if the crest is visible, but beware of poor views where size and subtle color differences are hard to judge.

Identification tips

1. Crest length and shape: Schalow's Turaco has a very long, white-tipped crest—the longest among turacos. Livingstone's Turaco's crest is shorter and less conspicuous. This is the single most reliable mark in perched birds of all ages.
2. Crest color: Schalow's crest is white-tipped and stands out against the green head. Livingstone's lacks the white tip and has a more subdued crest.
3. Overall coloration: Schalow's Turaco shows a coppery-jade green body that fades to a dark iridescent blue near the tail. Livingstone's is more uniformly green, without the strong blue tail contrast.
4. Facial pattern: Schalow's has red skin around the eye, lined with white feathers, giving a striking facial appearance. Livingstone's facial skin and feathering is less contrasting.
5. Bill color: Both have small red bills, so this is not a useful separator.
6. Flight feathers: Both species have red flight feathers, which is typical for turacos and not diagnostic between these two.
7. Body size and shape: Livingstone's is heavier and bulkier (318g vs. 243g). Schalow's is lighter and slimmer, but size is hard to judge unless you have direct comparison or experience.
8. Wing shape: Schalow's has short, rounded wings, adapted for short flights. This may make its flight appear more fluttery, but differences are subtle.
9. Tail color: Schalow's tail is iridescent blue, especially apparent in good light. Livingstone's tail is less blue and more greenish overall.
10. Habitat and range: If you are in coastal Mozambique, South Africa, or the lowland forests of southeastern Africa, Livingstone's is expected. Schalow's does not occur in these areas.
11. Behavior: Both species are arboreal and frugivorous, moving through the canopy with short flights. Behavior is not a strong separator unless crest display is seen.
12. Immature birds: No distinctive juvenile or immature wing patterns are described for either species, so focus on crest and facial pattern even in young birds.
13. Sex differences: No sexual dimorphism is described, so all marks apply to both sexes.
14. Seasonal variation: No seasonal plumage changes are noted for either species.
15. Pitfalls: Poor views can make the crest look shorter or obscure facial patterns. In such cases, rely on range and overall color impression, but beware overlap in green tones.

Size

Livingstone's Turaco is distinctly heavier, averaging 318g compared to Schalow's Turaco at 243g ([wikidata]). Schalow's Turaco is also described as light for a turaco, with a body length of 15–17 inches. In the field, Livingstone's appears bulkier and more robust, while Schalow's is slimmer and lighter, which may be noticeable in direct comparison or with experience. However, size alone can be misleading without a reference, especially at a distance or in dense foliage.

Plumage

No age-specific wing or flight pattern differences are described for either species, so focus on adult and general plumage. Schalow's Turaco stands out for its very long, white-tipped crest—this is diagnostic in adults and visible in most perched or close-up views. Its body is a coppery-jade green, shifting to a dark iridescent blue toward the tail, and it has red skin around the eyes, lined with white feathers. Livingstone's Turaco, in contrast, has a shorter crest and is more uniformly green overall, lacking the pronounced blue tail and the dramatic white-tipped crest. Both species have red flight feathers, but this is not a useful separator between them. The facial pattern is more striking in Schalow's due to the red skin and white feather lining around the eye.

Behaviour

Both species are frugivorous and arboreal, typically moving through the canopy with short, bounding flights. Schalow's Turaco's shorter, rounder wings are adapted for short flights, which may make its flight appear more fluttery and less direct than Livingstone's. However, behavior is generally similar and not a strong separator unless crest display is observed.

Habitat

Livingstone's Turaco is found in the subtropical lowlands of southeastern Africa, including isolated populations in Burundi, and more widely from southern Tanzania to eastern and southern Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and the subtropical coast of South Africa ([wikipedia]). Schalow's Turaco's range is not specified here, but it does not overlap extensively with Livingstone's. If you are in coastal Mozambique or South Africa, Livingstone's is much more likely; Schalow's is absent from these areas. Habitat preference is otherwise similar: both favor forested or wooded areas.