Posted to the Identify this! forum
11 October 2009 6:35 PM
Well I'm pretty sure I'm not mad and haven't been drinking but am almost 100% positive I have just seen a Hartlaub's Tauraco in woodland in Leytonstone, East London. The bird's call was bizarre, almost like a cooing/gurgling baby and the bird itself was slightly larger than a wood pigeon, it's body was dark green and black with a crested head, long wide tail and in flight the underside of the wings was an amazingly vivid, scarlet red on the lower half of the wing. Incredible to see, I took a very blurred photo on my phone and a video where the bird can't really be seen but the call is audible.
After searching the internet, I believe this is the bird I saw, a native of Mozambique so have no idea what it was doing here!
http://i.pbase.com/o6/87/100387/1/17076726.LE9aF1z7.155_5591b.jpg
12 October 2009 2:11 PM
Could it be an escapee (from zoo/wildlife park)?
12 October 2009 3:00 PM
I am inclined to agree with MarJus, either that or someone had it as a "pet" and released it for some reason.
12 October 2009 3:55 PM
Yes it certainly is very odd, I described the call to my husband and friends who live locally and a few of them have also heard it over the past couple of weeks. Will be taking my camera on all dog walks from now on so hope to see it again and get some decent pics!
13 October 2009 12:07 PM
It will of almost certainly been an escapee by the sounds of it! Definatley not a native species.
Here in the Wildlife Enquiries team we've spoken to several people this year reporting similar(ish) looking birds (Chinese painted quail) showing up in the most unexpected of places, they seem to be a popular species amongst private collectors..
LloydScott suggested this post as the answer
26 October 2009 12:10 PM
Well I've seen the bird a couple of times in the past week and have found out it's not a Hartlaub's but a Knysna Turaco. Beautiful to see it flying about Leytonstone!
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/musophagidae/tauraco_corythaix.htm
26 October 2009 12:35 PM
Desnob, thanks for your update. A beautiful bird but I feel sorry for it in our October climate. I see it will eat cotoneaster, so there is plenty of that in full berry at the moment.
26 October 2009 1:13 PM
Hi desnob, thanks from me also for the update. I have just looked at your link and am amazed. I would think you did a real double-take on seeing that flying around Leytonstone.
26 October 2009 3:16 PM
Hi Brenda H and Squirrel, it certainly is an amazing sight - have been telling all my dog walking friends to keep their eyes peeled as well. Saw it most recently on Friday morning - it landed in the tree outside our house with a magpie as I was heading out to walk the dog but unfortunately flew off before I could get my husband out to see it and grab my camera. It then flew over mine and dog's heads on the way to Wanstead Flats.
I hope it survives ok with Winter fast approaching. have been keeping our bird table well stocked, I wasn't aware it could eat cotoneaster but am sure that is a plant we have loads of around our way aso am glad it's finding food it can eat! Will update again - hopefully with a really good photo. ;-)
3 November 2009 7:27 PM
Wow, I'm glad I've found this forum. I've been scouring the net for two days trying to find out what bird I've seen in my back garden.
I live in South Woodford which is about 1 1/2 miles from Leytonstone. Myself and my neighbour have seen this bird three times between us in our back gardens, the latest being yesterday 2/11. It's very approachable so I would have thought it is semi tame, certainly used to humans.
Looking at the links posted by desnob I have to say that he/she was correct the first time around and that the bird is definately Hartlaub's Turcao. My neighbour took some great photo's and as soon as I can I'll post them here.
3 November 2009 8:31 PM
Hi Keefie and welcome to the forum. That bird is certainly checking out the area, by the sound of it. Look forward to seeing your photos.
3 November 2009 8:56 PM
LloydScott: It will of almost certainly been an escapee by the sounds of it! Definatley not a native species. Here in the Wildlife Enquiries team we've spoken to several people this year reporting similar(ish) looking birds (Chinese painted quail) showing up in the most unexpected of places, they seem to be a popular species amongst private collectors..
This bird is most definately a Turcao, not a Chinese Painted Quail.
3 November 2009 9:26 PM
Keefie, looking forward to seeing your photographs and good to hear the bird is fine.
4 November 2009 10:33 AM
Welcome Keefie and I too look forward to seeing the pics!!
4 November 2009 2:16 PM
Wow, Keefie that is so exciting that you and your neighbour have also seen the bird - isn't it incredibly beautiful?! Can't wait to see your pics.