Turacin

Turacin is a naturally occurring red pigment that is 6% copper complexed to uroporphyrin III.

Arthur Herbert Church discovered turacin in 1869.

[1] It is found only in the bird family Musophagidae, the turacos.

[2] Other birds derive their red coloration from carotenoids (bright and orange-reds) or phaeomelanins (rusty and brownish-reds).

The copper(II) uroporphyrin III pigment in turaco feathers was studied using electron spin resonance by Jack Peisach first with Blumberg[3] and later with Mims.