In spite of being poor fliers, the forest turacos (of which there a number of species) seldom descend to the ground. Instead, these shy but gregarious birds utilise their remarkable climbing skills to navigate the tree canopy, skipping nimbly from branch to branch. When unassailable gaps do eventually necessitate flight, they take to the air with a few earnest flaps to the next tree, before clambering back up into the leafy crown (2). Like other turaco species, adult Schalow’s turacos feed mainly on fruit, while the young are probably fed a protein rich diet of invertebrates (2) (4).
Although turacos generally forage in groups, breeding is a solitary affair, with monogamous pairs fiercely defending their territories. Courtship involves much calling, chasing and general exhibition, with Tauraco species commonly spreading their wings to display the striking crimson patches (2) (4). The flimsy nest of Schalow’s turaco is a shallow platform of loose twigs, positioned three to ten metres above the ground in thick foliage. A clutch size of two is typical, and the downy chicks hatch after an incubation period of 20 to 22 days, dutifully attended to by both sexes (2). The precocious chicks do not linger long in the nest, and within two to three weeks, are clambering through the branches of the nest tree, a full week or two before they learn to fly (4).