The red-crested turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus) is a brightly colored African bird endemic to western Angola. It belongs to a family of birds known for loud calls and vivid plumage, and, true to its name, it sports a red crest atop its head. It has a green body, a white face, and a yellow bill.

This species is mostly a fruit-eater living high in the canopy (what scientists call frugivorous), and it is known for a loud, throaty call that sounds somewhat like a jungle monkey’s chatter. The red-crested turaco is a medium-sized bird: an adult measures around 45-50 cm long (about 18-20 inches) and weighs about 210-325 g (roughly 7-11 ounces). Males and females sport the same vivid “mohawk” crest and appear alike, with the same colors and markings and no significant difference between the sexes.​

The turaco’s colors come from actual pigments in the feathers, not just light reflections like in many birds. The red shade (called turacin) and green shade (turacoverdin) are copper-based pigments found in no other birds. If you were to stir one of its red feathers in water, the water could turn pink from the pigment bleeding out, which is an old demonstration of how concentrated the color is. These unique pigments give the bird a luminous red and green appearance that truly sets it apart from other species.​