This is a white-cheeked turaco (Tauraco leucotis), one of the species of a relatively small bird species that is only found in Africa. The white-cheeked turaco is found in the highland areas of Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, usually at an altitude above 1500 meters. They hardly ever occur lower.

They are about the size of a wood pigeon with a length of about 43 cm, including the tail of about 20 cm. Their feathers are mostly steel blue and deep green. They obtain those colors by eating copper-containing (vegetable) foods. The flight feathers also often have bright red spots, but you only see them when they fly. Those beautiful red feathers are the cause that they are hunted. It is clear why they are called white-cheeked turaco, they have a white spot below the cheek.

Reference photo: own photo.

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