Photo: Louis Agassiz Fuertes / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Plantain-eater
Crinifer zonurus
Eastern Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus) is a member of the Musophagidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 527 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Musophagiformes
- Family Musophagidae Turacos
- Genus Crinifer
- Species zonurus
Where it lives
Chad and western Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, south to northeastern DR Congo and northwestern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 527 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Musophagidae
- Order
- Musophagiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Plantain-eater is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eastern Plantain-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus) belongs to the Musophagidae family of the order Musophagiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Chad and w Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, s to ne DR Congo and nw Tanzania.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 527 g, with a wing length of about 24.8 cm and a tail of around 25 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Plantain-eater?
The Eastern Plantain-eater is a large bird that weighs around 527 g.
Where does the Eastern Plantain-eater live?
The Eastern Plantain-eater is found across Africa with a range covering AF Chad and w Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, s to ne DR Congo and nw Tanzania, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Eastern Plantain-eater belong to?
The Eastern Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus) belongs to the Musophagidae family, in the order Musophagiformes.
What does the Eastern Plantain-eater eat?
The Eastern Plantain-eater is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Eastern Plantain-eater migrate?
The Eastern Plantain-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern Plantain-eater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eastern Plantain-eater make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Plantain-eater can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Plantain-eater's range?
The Eastern Plantain-eater has a mapped global range of about 1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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