ANIMAL:Keel-Billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
Type of Animal:
Toucan
Habitat:
Lowland & mid-altitude forest (closed & open), forest borders, second growth woodland, cacao plantations, coffee plantations, forest areas along streams/rivers, scrub forest, can be found up to 6,300 ft
Location(s):
Ranges from far S Mexico to W Venezuela, N & W Colombia, & Ecuador
Appearance:
Black body, yellow neck/chest w/ red at bottom, green around eye, large green bill w/ red tip/orange sides, blue feet, red tailtip feathers, red & white coverts beneath/above tail top, juveniles have duller plumage, brownish black body, pale gray irises
Food/Diet:
Fruit, berries, insects, reptiles, eggs, birds, frogs, seeds, nuts
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & aviculture
Lifestyle:
Flocks of 2-12 birds. Break off into pairs for breeding/nesting season.
Additional Info:Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Flock
Weight:
Male: 17.63 oz
Female: 13.40 oz
Young: 7 oz
Gestation:
16-20 daysLife Span:
20 years
Height:
Male: 1.54 ft
Female: 1.44 ft
Body Length:
Male: 1.54 ft
Female: 1.44 ft
Tail Length:
Male: 4 in
Female: 3 in
Main predators of adults are raptors, felids, crocodilians, anacondas, boa constrictors, & weasels. Other birds, monkeys, & snakes eat young/eggs.
Often hide from predators in tree hollows.
Bill honeycomb of bone containing lots of air.
Bill used to attract mates, catch food, for sparring, & for actual fights.
When sleeping, they tuck beak under feathers to keep warm.
Often move around by hopping since they’re rather poor flyers.
Pairs rear 2-4 chicks each year, w/ chicks staying w/ parents for 1 year.
Sexually mature at 2 years old.
Outside of breeding/nesting season, multiple individuals can be found sleeping in single hole.
Often use tongue to catch food.
Males have 6.156 in bill, females have 5.76 in bill.
Hatchlings naked & blind at birth.
Females have 3.58 ft wingspan, males have 5 ft wingspan.
Also called Sulfur-Breasted or Rainbow-Billed Toucans.
Like all toucans, they have zygodactyl feet w/ 2 toes facing forward & 2 facing back.
Fun Fact(s):
Loud frog-like call can be heard up to half a mile away.
Able to adjust blood flow in beak.
Sometimes associated w/ evil spirits & thought to be incarnations of demons. In fact, it’s believed that if dads w/ newborns eat toucan meat, baby will become cursed or baby fades away. In other cultures, used as tribal totems & medicine men use them as incantations to fly to spirit world.
Rather popular in pet trade due to tame nature.
National bird of Belize.
