Overview
A loud, nasal call carrying across the acacia woodland may announce a white-bellied go-away-bird perched prominently at the top of a tree. Noisy, watchful and unmistakable in silhouette, this large relative of the turacos is often heard before it is seen.
White-bellied go-away-birds inhabit the dry savannahs, thorn scrub and open woodlands of northern Tanzania. They spend much of their time clambering through branches in search of fruit, flowers, buds and fresh leaves, occasionally descending to the ground to drink or investigate fallen food.
Their familiar “go-away” call often sounds when people, predators or other disturbances approach. Other animals may react to the warning, but the bird is calling primarily to communicate with its own group rather than deliberately acting as a lookout for the wider animal community.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a large, long-tailed bird with a grey body, clean white belly, pointed crest and a dark tail crossed by a broad white band. Its heavy bill is dark in males and greenish in females, providing one of the clearest differences between the sexes.
White-bellied go-away-birds usually move in pairs or small groups. They climb and hop through trees more often than they make long flights, although they can glide between widely spaced branches with their long tails extended for balance.
Their diet is mainly plant-based. They browse among acacias and other trees for fruit, berries, flowers, buds, leaves and seeds, and may also drink nectar. In feeding on fruit and moving between trees, they can help disperse seeds across the landscape.
Interesting facts
Their name comes from their unmistakable call. The repeated nasal notes are often interpreted as sounding like “go away”.
Males and females have differently coloured bills. Adult males usually have dark bills, while those of females are greenish.
They are more agile climbers than elegant fliers. White-bellied go-away-birds move easily through branches but often fly with a mixture of quick wingbeats and gliding.