turaco
Very lowTechnical/ornithological
Definition
Meaning
A brightly coloured African bird with a prominent crest, belonging to the family Musophagidae.
Any bird of the family Musophagidae, known for their vivid green and red plumage, unique pigments (turacin and turacoverdin), and loud calls.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used in ornithological contexts. The plural can be 'turacos' or 'turacoes', with 'turacos' being more common. The family name Musophagidae means 'banana-eaters', though they are not exclusive frugivores.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent.
Connotations
None beyond the ornithological reference.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specialist contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] turaco [VERBed].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and ornithology papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
Standard term in ornithological field guides, taxonomy, and birdwatching.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a picture of a colourful turaco.
- The turaco is a bird that lives in Africa.
- With its bright green feathers and red crest, the turaco is easily identifiable.
- The turaco's unique pigments, turacin and turacoverdin, are copper-based and not found in other birds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TOUR Africa to see a COlourful TURACO.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'toucan' (тукан). A turaco is a different family of birds entirely.
- The Russian term is typically 'турако' (turako), a direct transliteration.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'touracou' or 'touraco'.
- Using it as a general term for any exotic bird.
- Incorrect pluralisation (e.g., 'turacoes' is rare but acceptable).
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of the turaco family?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Turacos are African birds in the family Musophagidae, while toucans are Neotropical birds in the family Ramphastidae. They look and behave quite differently.
The word 'turaco' is derived from a native West African name for the bird.
While possible, they are specialised wild birds with specific dietary and spatial needs, making them challenging pets. They are also protected in many regions.
Some species, like the Grey Go-away-bird, have a call that sounds like 'go away' or 'kweh', leading to their common name.