Toucans are brightly colored birds that come in all sizes.
Meet the Toucan
Forget the characterized toucan you see on cereal boxes—toucans come in all shapes and sizes. There are five genera and about 40 species of toucans, ranging from the jay-sized toucanet to the 24 inch toco toucan.
All toucans are distinguished by their large serrated beak and bright, distinct coloration. The beak may comprise over half of a toucan’s body length and is made mostly of keratin, the same protein that makes up your fingernails. The beak of a toco toucan is seven and a half inches long.
Biology and Habitat
Toucans and toucanets can be found in the lowland subtropical and tropical forests of Central and South America.
Toucans lay one clutch of two to four eggs per year. They typically create unlined nests in tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes.
Scientists haven’t reached a conclusion on the purpose of the toucan’s large, brightly-colored beak. Since both males and females have this beak—meaning they are not sexually dimorphic—it’s not used as a tool in attraction. The beak does help obtain fruit from high branches and can be used to intimidate smaller birds. Toucans have long, grey tongues that may be up to six inches in length. Toucans have several tail vertebrae fused to their spine that allows them to pull their tail near their head.
Bahavior and Diet
Toucans are gregarious. They flock together in large groups that can be downright noisy. They can be heard squawking, chattering, barking, and making all sorts of sounds against the forest background. They like to perch high in trees can be seen feeding their companions or preening them with their long beaks. Toucans are intelligent birds who enjoy playing games, like beak wrestling. During mating, toucans will toss fruit to one another.
The toucan diet largely consists of fruit and toucans will use their beak to glean fruit from trees. They will also eat insects, lizards, eggs, and even other birds’ nestlings.
Conservation
Even though toucans are not listed on the endangered species list, they are threatened by humans who capture them for pets, which is a popular trade in some areas. They are also threatened by deforestation.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Toucans are classified into five genuses--
Ramphastos—typical toucans like the toco toucan, Andigena—mountain toucans, Pteroglossus—toucans known as aracaris, Aulacorhynchus—green toucanets, Selenidera—dichormatic (sexually dimorphic) toucanets