Research on Brazilian Toucans
Research on Brazilian Toucans
Toucan is the Brazilian name for a bird of the family, Ramphastidae, with approximately 42 different species of the bird. These peculiar birds belong to the order Piciformes, whose members have feet with the first and fourth toes reversed and are all cavity nesters. The toucan is an unusual –looking bird, characterized by an enormous but light-weight bill, that has many useful qualities. Most species, posess a brilliant solid or multi-colored bill. They live in the tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America, especially in the Amazon regions. Toucans are intelligent, curious and entertaining creatures. Eventhough they do not have the ability to mimic speech, they are playful and can be taught to perform tricks, including catch. The most common toucans in the wild include, the Keel Bill, Toco, and the Yellow Throated Toucan. Commonly available pet species include, the Toco, Red Bill, Keel Bill and Channel Bill Toucans. .
The Toucan is an attractive neotropical bird, whose large slender body can be approximately 33 to 64 centimeters long. They have rounded wings with a small tail. Their bill may be as long as their body and appear in any colorful variation. The bill of a Toucan may be black, blue, brown, green, red, white, yellow, or any combination of colors. Toucans use their colorful bill to attract their mate. Their broken pattern also allows the bird to camoflage itself among the panorama of the forest colors. The canoe- shaped bill of a Toucan appears to be heavy, but is actually light, containing many air pockets. The edges of the bill are serrated, to allow the bird to skin fruit, drill wood, probe in the mud or tear flesh, as necessary. Inside the bill, is a long, narrow, feather-like tongue. The toucan can be easily found by listening for their loud croak, which can be heard up to half a mile away.
Most species of toucans live in small flocks of generally 6 to 8 and sleep in hollow trees. When a toucan sleeps, they turn their head around and place their bill down the center of their back, then fold their tail over their head. Most species of toucans mate once a year, nesting in a hollow tree. Although the nest...