Mammals diurnal

Red-tailed Monkey

Cercopithecus ascanius

With its vibrant copper tail and unmistakable heart-shaped nose spot, the Red-tailed Monkey is a crown jewel of the African forest canopy. These agile and vocal primates bring a high-energy social spectacle to any trail camera set in the treetops.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head-body length of 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) with a tail reaching up to 35 inches (90 cm); weight ranges from 7-11 lbs (3-5 kg).

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Colors

Olive-brown to grayish body with dark limbs; facial features include a white heart-shaped nose spot and yellowish cheek whiskers, while the tail is a distinctive chestnut-red.

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Key Features

Distinctive heart-shaped white spot on the nose
Long, vibrant copper-red tail underside
White or yellowish bushy cheek fur
Blackish face with light blue skin around the eyes

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily frugivorous, focusing on ripe fruit, but they also consume leaves, flowers, and insects; they possess large cheek pouches to store food while foraging.

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Habitat Primary and secondary tropical rainforests, riverine forests, and montane forests; frequently found in forest-edge habitats and suburban gardens near wooded areas.

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Behavior

Red-tailed Monkeys are highly social and energetic primates that live in groups ranging from 10 to 30 individuals. These groups are typically led by a single dominant male who oversees a harem of females and their offspring. They are famous for their communicative nature, using a complex array of chirps, bird-like whistles, and physical displays—such as 'nose-spotting' where they press their noses against one another—to maintain group cohesion.

As agile climbers, they spend the vast majority of their time in the middle to upper canopy of the forest. They are often seen in the company of other primate species, such as Blue Monkeys or Colobus, forming mixed-species groups for better protection against predators like eagles and chimpanzees. While they are generally shy around humans, they can become habituated to backyard gardens or forest-edge plantations where fruit is abundant.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Red-tailed Monkey on camera requires a shift in perspective, as these primates are primarily arboreal. Instead of placing your camera at ground level, look for 'monkey highways'—horizontal branches or vines that show signs of wear or frequent use. Secure your camera 10 to 20 feet up a tree trunk, angled slightly downward toward a crossing point. If you are lucky enough to have fruiting trees like figs or palms in your area, mounting a camera nearby during the ripening season is almost a guaranteed way to see them.

Because these monkeys are incredibly fast and move with jerky, erratic motions, your camera settings are crucial. Use a high trigger speed (0.2s to 0.5s) and a multi-shot burst mode. This ensures that if the first frame catches only a tail, the subsequent shots capture the face and the distinctive white nose spot. High-resolution video is also recommended to capture their unique bird-like vocalizations, which are a highlight of any recording.

While we don't recommend artificial baiting which can disrupt their natural diet, planting native fruit-bearing trees is a long-term way to attract them to a backyard setup. If your camera is near a water source or a known 'salt lick' area on the ground, you might catch them descending briefly. During these moments, ensure your PIR (motion) sensor sensitivity is set to high, as their small frames and light footfalls might not trigger lower-sensitivity settings from a distance.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-tailed Monkey.

Blue Monkey

Larger with a dark gray-blue coat and no white nose spot; often found in the same groups.

L'Hoest's Monkey

Features a white 'ruff' or collar around the neck and prefers spending more time on the ground than the Red-tailed Monkey.

Vervet Monkey

Has a grizzled gray body and a black face, lacking the red tail and the heart-shaped nose spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red-tailed Monkeys are diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. They exhibit two peak activity bursts: early morning shortly after sunrise as they move from sleeping sites to feeding trees, and late afternoon before they settle in for the night.

If you live within their range in Central or East Africa, the best way to attract Red-tailed Monkeys is by preserving or planting native fruiting trees like Wild Figs (Ficus) or Umbrella Trees (Musanga cecropioides). They are also attracted to gardens with diverse canopy cover that provides safe travel routes.

Their diet is mostly comprised of fruit, but they are opportunistic feeders. They will eat young leaves for protein, flowers for nectar, and are known to spend significant time hunting for insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars, which they store in their cheek pouches.

Yes, they are remarkably adaptable. In regions like Entebbe or Nairobi, Red-tailed Monkeys are frequently found in suburban areas that maintain mature tree cover. They are often bolder than other primates and will readily visit suburban fruit trees.

While both are guenons, the Red-tailed Monkey is smaller and easily identified by the bright white heart-shaped spot on its nose and its long, chestnut-red tail. Blue Monkeys are larger, lack the white nose spot, and have a more uniform dark-gray or 'blue' appearance.

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