About Crinifer zonurus (Ruppell, 1835)
The eastern plantain-eater, also known as the eastern grey plantain-eater, has the scientific name Crinifer zonurus (Ruppell, 1835). It is a large member of the turaco family, a group of large, arboreal near-passerine birds that live only in Africa. This species is a resident breeding bird found in open woodland habitats in tropical east Africa. It lays two or three eggs in a tree platform nest. Despite not having the bright brilliant colors of its relatives like the violet turaco, eastern plantain-eaters are common, noisy, and easy to spot. They measure 50 cm (20 in) long including their long tail, and weigh between 392–737 g (13.8–26.0 oz). Their upper plumage is mainly grey, with brown spots. The head, erectile crest, neck, and breast are brown with silver streaks. Their underparts are whitish, with heavy brown streaking. The eastern plantain-eater has a thick bright yellow bill, and displays a white wing bar when in flight. Adult males and females look identical, but immature birds have a black woolly head with no silver streaking. This bird is similar to the closely related western plantain-eater, but the eastern plantain-eater has white tail bars, and does not have the chest bars and dark wing feather shafts that mark its western relative. This species feeds on fruit, especially figs, and other vegetable matter.
