Terrific Toucans

Dec 14, 2017
 

by Sandra Baksh

Chestnut-mandibled toucan, Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii, Toucan in Costa Rica, Sandra Baksh, Solomon Baksh, Blue magazine, La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Costa Rica

Chestnut-mandibled toucan at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica

Toucans are among some of the most exquisite birds, especially with their prominent, colorful bills. For many of us, our first association with a toucan, was on a box of Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal, in the form of Toucan Sam (its mascot since 1963), who resembles a Toco Toucan! When you see these arboreal birds in the wild, admire their silhouettes as they fly by at dusk or hear those loud squawks throughout the rainforest, they are truly avian wonders, with unique beauty. Those conspicuous and colorful bills don’t have powerful crushing power but they function by rolling and slicing seeds and fruits, their primary diet. Many species of toucans are found in primary forests of the Neotropics. These are just three of them:

Keel-billed Toucan, Ramphastos sulfuratus, Sulfur-breasted toucan, toucan with rainbow-colored bill, bird of Belize, Blue magazine, Sandra Baksh, Solomon Baksh,

The Keel-billed Toucan is the National Bird of Belize

Emerald toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus, Belize small toucan, Sandra Baksh, Solomon Baksh, Blue magazine, small, green toucan with yellow and black beak,

The Emerald toucanet is found throughout Central America.

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