The Toucan
Physical Characteristics
Toucans range in size from about 130 g (4.6 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 inches), to about 680 g (1.5 lb) and 63 cm (29 inches). Their bodies are short and compact. The tail is rounded and varies in length, usually from half the length to the full length of their body.Their neck is short, stubby and thick. Their wings are small but because they live in the rainforests they only need to travel short distances. The legs of a Tocan are strong and pretty short. The cool thing about Toucans is that their toes are arranged in pairs, the first and fourth toes are turned backward and the other two are faced forward. The feathers of the largest toucans are usually black, with touches of white, yellow, and scarlet. But the underparts of smaller Toucans are yellow, crossed with one or more black or red bands. The female Toucans also known as toucanets have mostly green plumage with blue markings. The colourful and enormously large bill also known as their beak measures more than half their body length in some large species. Despite it's size the the bill is actually very light, it has forward facing nicks that resemble teeth, which led naturalists to bieleve that toucans captured fish and were primarily carnivores. Today we know that they eat mostly fruit. The rather long beak has advantages; it allows them to rech for food farther away with less energy because of it's length. A toucan's toungue is long (up to 14 to 15 cm, or 6 inches), narrow, and grey. Toucans are usually found in pairs or small flocks. They sometimes fence with their bills and wrestle.
Toucans range in size from about 130 g (4.6 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 inches), to about 680 g (1.5 lb) and 63 cm (29 inches). Their bodies are short and compact. The tail is rounded and varies in length, usually from half the length to the full length of their body.Their neck is short, stubby and thick. Their wings are small but because they live in the rainforests they only need to travel short distances. The legs of a Tocan are strong and pretty short. The cool thing about Toucans is that their toes are arranged in pairs, the first and fourth toes are turned backward and the other two are faced forward. The feathers of the largest toucans are usually black, with touches of white, yellow, and scarlet. But the underparts of smaller Toucans are yellow, crossed with one or more black or red bands. The female Toucans also known as toucanets have mostly green plumage with blue markings. The colourful and enormously large bill also known as their beak measures more than half their body length in some large species. Despite it's size the the bill is actually very light, it has forward facing nicks that resemble teeth, which led naturalists to bieleve that toucans captured fish and were primarily carnivores. Today we know that they eat mostly fruit. The rather long beak has advantages; it allows them to rech for food farther away with less energy because of it's length. A toucan's toungue is long (up to 14 to 15 cm, or 6 inches), narrow, and grey. Toucans are usually found in pairs or small flocks. They sometimes fence with their bills and wrestle.
Ecosystem/Habitat
Toucans are native to Southern Mexico, and Southe America, and the Caribbean region. They generally live in tropical and sub tropical regions. They make their nests in tree hollows and holes made by other animals such as woodpeckers. The tocan bill has very limited use as an excavation tool.
Toucans are native to Southern Mexico, and Southe America, and the Caribbean region. They generally live in tropical and sub tropical regions. They make their nests in tree hollows and holes made by other animals such as woodpeckers. The tocan bill has very limited use as an excavation tool.
Food/Hunt
Toucans are mainly fruit eating or frugivorous animals, but are sometimes referred to as omnivores because they will eat prey such as insects and small lizards. Toucans that are in captivity have been reported to hunt insects actively in their cages, and it is possible to keep toucans on an insect only diet. They also steal eggs and nestlings from other birds’ nests. This provides a critical addition of protein to their diet, but like many birds they prefer animal food for feeding their chicks.
Toucans are mainly fruit eating or frugivorous animals, but are sometimes referred to as omnivores because they will eat prey such as insects and small lizards. Toucans that are in captivity have been reported to hunt insects actively in their cages, and it is possible to keep toucans on an insect only diet. They also steal eggs and nestlings from other birds’ nests. This provides a critical addition of protein to their diet, but like many birds they prefer animal food for feeding their chicks.
Enemies
Toucans have a number of predators in the South American Rainforests including humans. The humans capture the toucans from the wild because they make a rather good house pet and they provide the villagers that caught them quite a bit of money at the market. Other predators of the toucan are Large birds of prey, and wild cats, especially the jaguar. Snakes and rats are also predators of the toucan but they tend to feed more on their eggs and not the toucan itself.
Toucans have a number of predators in the South American Rainforests including humans. The humans capture the toucans from the wild because they make a rather good house pet and they provide the villagers that caught them quite a bit of money at the market. Other predators of the toucan are Large birds of prey, and wild cats, especially the jaguar. Snakes and rats are also predators of the toucan but they tend to feed more on their eggs and not the toucan itself.
Reproduction/Birth
Toucans Build their nests in trees and lay around three eggs. When the toucan chicks hatch, both the male and female toucan help to feed and protect them from predators. The toucan Chicks are born with small beacks that do not reach their full size for at least a few months. Toucanets do not begin to expand until they are nearly four weeks old. Parents will care for their young for about eight weeks but small toucanets may fly from the nest when they are just 43 days old.
Toucans Build their nests in trees and lay around three eggs. When the toucan chicks hatch, both the male and female toucan help to feed and protect them from predators. The toucan Chicks are born with small beacks that do not reach their full size for at least a few months. Toucanets do not begin to expand until they are nearly four weeks old. Parents will care for their young for about eight weeks but small toucanets may fly from the nest when they are just 43 days old.