Crinifer piscator (Boddaert, 1783)

Common and Scientific Names

The western plantain-eater, whose scientific name is Crinifer piscator, is also commonly called the grey plantain-eater or western grey plantain-eater.

Taxonomic Classification

It is a large member of the turaco family, a group of large arboreal near-passerine birds that live only in Africa.

Distribution and Habitat

This species is a resident breeding bird found in open woodland habitats in tropical west Africa.

Reproduction

It builds a tree platform nest, where it lays two or three eggs.

General Appearance Notes

Although these birds lack the bright coloring of relatives like the violet turaco, they are common, noisy, and easy to spot.

Size

They measure 50 cm in total length, which includes a long tail.

Upper Plumage

Their upper plumage is mainly grey with brown spots.

Head and Upper Body Markings

Their head, erectile crest, neck, and breast are brown with silver streaks.

Underpart Markings

Their underparts are whitish, with heavy brown streaking.

Bill and Flight Markings

The western plantain-eater has a thick, bright yellow bill, and displays a white wing bar when in flight.

Sexual and Juvenile Differences

Males and females look identical, but juvenile birds have a black woolly head with no silver streaking.

Related Species Comparison

This bird is similar to the closely related eastern plantain-eater. The eastern plantain-eater has white tail bars, and does not have the chest bars and dark wing feather shafts that the western plantain-eater has.

Diet

The western plantain-eater feeds on fruit—especially figs—along with seeds and other vegetable matter.

Vocalization

It makes a loud cow-cow-cow call, which is very well known across west Africa.