The Guinea turaco's green coloration is due to the pigment turacoverdin
Turacoverdin is a unique copper uroporphyrin pigment responsible for the bright green coloration of several birds of the family Musophagidae, most notably the turaco. It is chemically related to turacin, a red pigment also found almost exclusively in turacos.[1] Turacoverdin is one of the only true green pigments found in birds, as the coloration that appears in most green feathers is due to the unique properties of blue structural coloration in combination with yellow carotenoids.[2] Turacoverdin and turacin were the first ever chemically characterized feather pigments, and turacoverdin was first isolated and described in 1882 by Dr. C.F.W. Krukenberg.[3]
^Gill, Frank B. (2006), Ornithology (3rd ed.), W. H. Freeman, p. 97, ISBN 978-0-7167-4983-7
^Hill, Geoffrey E. (2010), Bird Coloration, National Geographic, p. 72, ISBN 978-1-4262-0571-2
^Newton, Alfred; et al. (1899), A dictionary of birds, Part 1, A. and C. Black, p. 982
Turacoverdin is a unique copper uroporphyrin pigment responsible for the bright green coloration of several birds of the family Musophagidae, most notably...
but especially the little-researched turacoverdin might have relatives in other birds. The incidence of turacoverdin in relation to habitat is of interest...
Psittacofulvin, a brightly colored red and yellow pigment unique to parrots Turacoverdin, green pigment unique to turacos Church, A. H. (1869). "Researches on...
feather structure. The turaco's red pigment (turacin) and green pigment (turacoverdin) both contain copper. In fact, if you stirred a glass of water with a...
is not always green all over, the presence of significant amounts of turacoverdin-colored plumage generally sets Tauraco species apart from other Musophagidae...
psittacofulvins (found in some parrots) and the red turacin and green turacoverdin (porphyrin pigments found only in turacos). Structural coloration is...
have a yellow-green light about them as the trees filter the light. Turacoverdin is one chemical which can cause a green hue in birds, especially. Invertebrates...
Psittacofulvins: a class of red and yellow pigments unique to parrots Turacin and Turacoverdin: red and green pigments found in turacos and related species Anthoxanthins:...
Global Information