Keel-Billed Toucan

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 days 

Life 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.
Keel-Billed Toucan, stock photo

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