The Loud Voice of the Canopy
The Eastern Plantain-eater (Tauraco emini) is a bold and lively bird, often heard before it is seen, echoing across Uganda’s forests with its unmistakable calls. A member of the Musophagidae family, they are listed as Least Concern, with a stable and widespread population by the IUCN, though exact numbers remain unknown.
In Uganda, they thrive in tropical forests and well-wooded areas such as Kibale, Semuliki, Bwindi, and Budongo, where they feed on fruits high in the canopy. The flash of red wings in flight is always a memorable sight.
This species are non-migratory, making only short local movements, usually within a few kilometers, following fruiting trees. Vibrant and vocal, it remains a true symbol of Uganda’s rich forest life.