Toucans - iconic New World birds
- Finn Holmes-Kellett
- Feb 4, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 1, 2021
(Below) The Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) is the largest and possibly the most recognised of the family! Being 'New World' birds, they live in the Americas, specifically from Central America through to South America. With over 30 species within the group, the range of some species can overlap with those of others, while others are dependant on region. Some will range as far south as Argentina as long as their is suitable habitat! The favoured habitat of these birds is tropical and sub-tropical forests, where there is plenty of food and nesting sites.
Omnivorous, toucans feed on a range of different foods. Their strong beak is ideal for cracking nuts and plucking soft fruits, but also for extracting small prey animals such as insects, small reptiles, bird hatchlings and bats from hiding places. With that being said, fruit makes up the majority of their diet, to the extent that many tree species rely on these birds for seed dispersal! Every animal has its place!
The beak, or bill, one of the main reasons why toucans are so iconic, has a number of other functions. Its colour various between species, making it great for each species to recognise conspecifics. In areas of vibrant vegetation such as flowers, the bill can in fact be useful for camouflage! The animal is also able to regulate its body temperature by controlling the blood flow into the beak itself. For example, to cool down, allowing the blood to circulate through the bill will transfer heat away from the body! This is certainly handy when living in a warm environment such as a rainforest!
Being poor flyers is not necessarily an issue for toucans. Living in densely-forested areas, the need to fly can be minimal, so they prefer to hop from branch to branch to reach new food sources. This also helps save a lot of energy.
The closest relatives of the toucan family are thought to be woodpeckers! I guess that figures, as they also have outstanding beaks in their own way!
As would-be pet owners are often drawn to animal species that have an attractive appearance, it is important to highlight that there are not many toucans within the pet trade. The unsustainable demand for wild animals as pets is often damaging to wild populations, especially if they need to be captured first, so it may well be good that this is the case! Due to their husbandry requirements, it is difficult to meet the needs of these birds in captivity, even within zoological collections (Home - Exotics Keeper Magazine). In short, they do not make good pets!
While they have their habitat preferences, toucans have been found to be surprisingly adaptable to change. While deforestation is certainly having an effect on their populations in the wild, their ability to glide means they can live in more open areas if necessary. However, like many species, every little bit of help counts! You can help by spreading the word and donating to conservation charities and rescue programmes:
References: (Because we all learn from somewhere):
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