Toucan

Toucan
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Branch	Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Avialae
Order Information
Superorder	Passerimorphae
Order	Piciformes
Sub-order	Pici
Infraorder	Ramphastides
Family Information
Superfamily	Ramphastoidea
Family	Ramphastidae
Sub-family	Ramphastinae
Genus Information
Genera	Andigena Aulacorhynchus Pteroglossus Ramphastos Selenidera
Population statistics

Toucan refers to any one of 38 species of Central and South American birds characterized by bulky bodies and long, often colorful bills.

Description

Toucans range in size from 12 to 29 inches in length. Their bodies are compact, and have plumage which in most species bear bold patterns of red, green, yellow, blue, orange, black, or white. Smaller species tend to have less-gaudy or dull plumage. All species have short, rounded wings, a long, graduated tail, and short, strong legs with zygodactyl feet, i.e. two toes pointing forwards, two toes pointing back.

The bill is the most distinctive characteristic of the birds. It is large; in some species the bill is half the body length, yet remarkably light due to a spongy structure within. Boldly-colored, the bills may serve as displays in mating or as intimidation against other birds near their nesting areas, in addition to being an efficient thermal radiator to cool the birds down, and often within minutes.

Species

• Genus Andigena

Black-billed mountain toucan, Andigena nigrirostris

Grey-breasted mountain toucan, Andigena hypoglauca

Hooded mountain toucan, Andigena cucullata

Plate-billed mountain toucan, Andigena laminirostris

• Genus Aulacorhynchus

Blue-banded toucanet, Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis

Chestnut-tipped toucanet, Aulacorhynchus derbianus

Crimson-rumped toucanet, Aulacorhynchus haematopygus

Emerald toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus

Groove-billed toucanet, Aulacorhynchus sulcatus

Whitely's toucanet, Aulacorhynchus whitelianus

Yellow-browed toucanet, Aulacorhynchus huallagae

• Genus Pteroglossus

Black-necked aracari, Pteroglossus aracari

Brown-mandibled aracari, Pteroglossus mariae

Chestnut-eared aracari, Pteroglossus castanotis

Collared aracari, Pteroglossus torquatus

Curl-crested aracari, Pteroglossus beauharnaesii

Fiery-billed aracari, Pteroglossus frantzii

Green aracari, Pteroglossus viridis

Ivory-billed aracari, Pteroglossus azara

Lettered aracari, Pteroglossus inscriptus

Many-banded aracari, Pteroglossus pluricinctus

Pale-mandibled aracari, Pteroglossus erythropygius

Red-necked aracari, Pteroglossus bitorquatus

Saffron toucanet, Pteroglossus bailloni

Stripe-billed aracari, Pteroglossus sanguineus

• Genus Ramphastos

Black-mandibled toucan, Ramphastos ambiguus

Channel-billed toucan, Ramphastos vitellinus

Choco toucan, Ramphastos brevis

Green-billed toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus

Keel-billed toucan, Ramphastos sulfuratus

Toco toucan, Ramphastos toco

White-throated toucan, Ramphastos tucanus

• Genus Selenidera

Golden-collared toucanet, Selenidera reinwardtii

Gould's toucanet, Selenidera gouldii

Guianan toucanet, Selenidera culik

Spot-billed toucanet, Selenidera maculirostris

Tawny-tufted toucanet, Selenidera nattereri

Yellow-eared toucanet, Selenidera spectabilis

Nesting

Nesting occurs in tree holes, either those formed via natural decay or in holes created by other birds. Two to four eggs are laid, with both parents incubating; they are restless during this period, seldom spending more than an hour on the eggs. The chicks are born naked, getting a down covering several days after hatching.