Toucans
Appearance: Toucans are instantly recognizable by their striking feature - their remarkably large and colorful bills, which can reach lengths surpassing half of their bodies. In general, these birds possess a compact and robust physique, characterized by short legs and lengthy tails. The plumage of toucans often showcases a vibrant palette, featuring a blend of colors like black, white, yellow, red, blue, and green. This vivid array of hues not only aids in their concealment within the dense forest canopy but also plays a pivotal role in attracting potential mates.
Habitat: Within the tropical realms of Central and South America, particularly in Colombia, toucans find their abode. They predominantly inhabit various forest types including lowland rainforests, montane forests, and cloud forests. Thriving in humid settings enriched with an abundance of fruit-bearing trees, as fruits form a substantial part of their diet.
Behavior: Sociable creatures by nature, toucans often move in small groups, displaying a preference for communal living. While they primarily sustenance on fruits, they also incorporate insects, small reptiles, and eggs into their dietary habits. Their adeptness in navigating the forest canopy is notable, as they hop between branches with agility, utilizing their robust bills for support. Renowned for their unique vocalizations, toucans employ an array of pitches and tones for communication purposes within their flock.
Breeding:
Nesting commonly occurs within tree hollows, oftentimes utilizing abandoned woodpecker nests as their shelters. A typical clutch contains 2-4 eggs, with both parent birds endeavoring in the incubation process. Post-hatching, the parents diligently feed the chicks with regurgitated food until they reach the fledgling stage. Toucan juveniles undergo an extensive period of development before achieving independence and the ability to soar unaided.
Yellow-throated Toucan
Ramphastos ambiguus
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiamarillo
Size: 21 in | 53 cm
Habitat: Lowland and foothill forests.
Height: <1500 m
Photo: © Eduardo Lago V.
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
Ramphastos (ambiguus) swainsonii
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiamarillo
Size: 21 in | 53 cm
Habitat: Lowland and foothill forests.
Height: <1500 m
Photo: © Alex Luna eBird S45928442
Black-mandibled Toucan
Ramphastos (ambiguus) ambiguus
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiamarillo
Size: 21 in | 53 cm
Habitat: Lowland and foothill forests.
Height: <300 -2500 m
Photo: © Phil Bartley eBird S122112696
White-throated Toucan
Ramphastos tucanus
Spanish Name: Tucán Silvador
Size: 21 in | 53 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1200 m
Photo: © Renato Espinosa eBird S50352976 Macaulay Library ML 127340261
Keel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Spanish Name: Tucán Caribeño.
Size: 19 in | 48 cm
Habitat:
Height: <2000 m
Photo: © Eduardo Lago V.
Choco Toucan
Ramphastos brevis
Spanish Name: Tucán del Pacífico
Size: 19 in | 48 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1550 m
Photo: © Stefan Hirsch eBird S47222247 Macaulay Library ML 109700181
Channel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiblanco
Size: 19 in | 48 cm
Habitat:
Height: <900 m
Photo: © Kacau Oliveira eBird S33995322 Macaulay Library ML 46778271
Citron-throated Toucan
Ramphastos (vitellinus) citreolaemus
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiblanco
Size: 19 in | 48 cm
Habitat:
Height: <900 m
Photo: © Edwin Munera eBird S27890820 Macaulay Library ML 25151201
Yellow-ridged Toucan
Ramphastos (vitellinus) culminatus
Spanish Name: Tucán Pechiblanco
Size: 19 in | 48 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1700 m
Photo: © Phillip Edwards eBird S65011040 Macaulay Library ML 204878691
Blue-throated Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantiazul
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 800-2450 m
Photo: © Andres Vasquez Noboa eBird S130493390 Macaulay Library ML 547262151
Violet-throated Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus (caeruleogularis) cognatus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantiazul
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 800-2450 m
Photo: © Jan Cubilla eBird S62453815
Grey-throated Toucanet (Southern Emerald Toucanet)
Aulacorhynchus albivitta
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantigris
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1600-3000 m
Photo: © Alex Luna eBird S61430060 Macaulay Library ML 267444381
Santa Marta Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus (albivitta) lautus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantigris
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1600-3000 m
Photo: © Zak PohleneBird S161516469
White-throated Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus (albivitta) albivitta
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantigris
Size: 0 in | 0 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1000-3000 m
Photo: © Mauricio Acosta iStock/Getty Images Plus
Gray-throated Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus (albivitta) phaeolaemus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Gargantigris
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1200-3000 m
Photo: © Kevin Groeneweg eBird S28446753 Macaulay Library ML 25962851
Crimson-rumped Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Culirrojo
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 800-2300 m
Photo: © Luis A. Materon
Grooved-billed Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus sulcatus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Verde
Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat:
Height: 600-2000 m
Photo: © Margareta Wieser eBird S65129182 Macaulay Library ML 205456111
Yellow-billed Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus (sulcatus) calorhynchus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Verde
Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat:
Height: 600-2000 m
Photo: © Nigel Voaden eBird S18350295 Macaulay Library ML 45292741
Chestnut-tipped Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus derbianus
Spanish Name: Tucancito Colicastaño
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 600-1800 m
Photo: © Nick Athanas eBird S49576611 Macaulay Library ML 121395651
Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan
Andigena hypoglauca
Spanish Name: Terlaque Andino
Size: 18 in | 46 cm
Habitat:
Height: 2200-3650 m
Photo: © Eduardo Lago V.
Plate-billed Mountain-toucan
Andigena laminirostris
Spanish Name: Terlaque de Nariño
Size: 20 in | 51 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1300-2500 m
Photo: © Alex Luna eBird S65063768 Macaulay Library ML 266546811
Black-billed Mountain-toucan
Andigena nigrirostris
Spanish Name: Terlaque Pechiazul
Size: 20 in | 51 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1700-2700 m
Photo: © Eduardo Lago V.
Yellow-eared Toucanet
Selenidera spectabilis
Spanish Name: Pichilingo Negro
Size: 15 in | 38 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1100 m
Photo: © Jorge Gabriel Campos eBird S41293493 Macaulay Library ML 109861791
Red-billed Toucanet (Golden-collared Toucanet)
Selenidera reinwardtii
Spanish Name: Pichilingo Aserrador
Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1000 m
Photo: © Holger Teichmann eBird S66530074 Macaulay Library ML 220053851
Tawny-tufted Toucanet
Selenidera nattereri
Spanish Name: Pichilingo Dentado
Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat:
Height: <250 m
Photo: © Ray WershlereBird S53292080Macaulay Library ML 167035521
Humboldt’s Araçari (Lettered Araçari)
Pteroglossus humboldti
Spanish Name: Pichí Picorrayado
Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat:
Height: 600-1000 m
Photo: © Ian Davies eBird S8408935 Macaulay Library ML 23607831
Collared Araçari
Pteroglossus torquatus
Spanish Name: Pichí Bandeado
Size: 16 in | 41 cm
Habitat:
Height: <900 m
Photo: © Eduardo Lago V.
Striped-billed Araçari
Pteroglossus sanguineus
Spanish Name: Pichí de Pico Rayado
Size: 16 in | 41 cm
Habitat:
Height: <900 m
Photo: © Roger AhlmaneBird S65090017
Chestnut-eared Araçary
Pteroglossus castanotis
Spanish Name: Pichí Bandirrojo
Size: 18 in | 46 cm
Habitat:
Height: <1000 m
Photo: © Tim Forreste reBird S35329609 Macaulay Library ML 56944631
Many-banded Araçari
Pteroglossus pluricinctus
Spanish Name: Pichi Bibandeado
Size: 17 in | 43 cm
Habitat:
Height: <900 m
Photo: © Renato Espinosa eBird S50352830 Macaulay Library ML 127315771
Ivory-billed Araçari
Pteroglossus azara
Spanish Name: Pichí Pico-de-marfil
Size: 15 in | 38 cm
Habitat:
Height: <800 m
Photo: © Warren Perez eBird S71700610 Macaulay Library ML 251165191
Yellow-billed Araçari
Pteroglossus (azara) flavirostris
Spanish Name: Pichí Piquiamarillo
Size: 15 in | 38 cm
Habitat:
Height: <800 m
Photo: © Josef Widmer eBird S64968678 Macaulay Library ML204227031
