Musophagidae; turacos

Japanese: エボシドリ（英語表記）Musophagidae; turacos

A general term for birds in the family Corythaeidae, order Corythaeformes. There are 23 species. Most are around 45cm long, but the Crested Beast Corythaeola cristata can reach 76cm long. As the Japanese name suggests, they have a crest on the top of their head that resembles a eboshi hat. Many species have bright feathers in red, blue, green, purple, and brown, but birds in the Crinifer genus are more subdued. Their bills are short, with the upper beak curved downward and sturdy. Their wings are rounded and short, but their tail feathers are relatively long. The green color of their feathers is due to a copper-containing pigment called turacobadin, and the red color is due to a copper-containing pigment called turacin, which are unique to this family. In recent years, it has been discovered that the feathers of the Jacana spinosa and the Red Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus also contain this pigment. They live only in the forests of Africa. All of its toes point forward and backward, and it uses its short legs to move actively around in trees, feeding mainly on fruit.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

エボシドリ目エボシドリ科の鳥の総称。23種からなる。多くは全長 45cm内外であるが，カンムリエボシドリ Corythaeola cristata は全長 76cmもある。和名の示すように頭頂部には烏帽子を思わせる冠羽（→羽冠）がある。羽色は赤色，青色，緑色，紫色，褐色など鮮やかな種が多いが，ハイイロエボシドリ属 Crinifer などの鳥は地味である。嘴は短く，上嘴が下方に曲がり，がっしりしている。翼は丸みがあって短めであるが，尾羽は比較的長い。羽毛の緑色はツラコバジン，赤色はツラシンという銅を含む色素によるもので，本科に特有のものである。近年，アメリカレンカク Jacana spinosa やベニキジ Ithaginis cruentus なども羽毛にこの色素のあることがわかった。アフリカの森林だけに生息する。趾（あしゆび）はすべて前後に向けられ，短い脚で樹上を活発に動き回り，果実を主食とする。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

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