Toucans  

is the common name for the well-known birds with the large and colorful beak found  only in the Americas, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. They belong to the order of Piciformes and comprise the family of Rampastidae with 6 genera and 38 species. In Ecuador are 19 species in 5 genera present, inhabiting the lowland and higher tropical forests of the country.

Toucans are found in tropical cloud and rainforests on both sides of the Ecuadorian Andes. They feed primarily on fruits but supplement their diet with worms, insects, eggs and hatchlings, small birds and reptiles. They range in sizes from 18cm to 63cm, with the largest toucans being those of the genus Ramphastos, considered the classical toucans, living in the lower tropical rainforests. Mountain-Toucans, which are a little bit smaller, inhabit more higher elevations. The medium sized Araçaris are found in the lower regions with some ranging higher up. The smallest are the green toucanets which are found both in lower and higher lying forests.

 White-Throated Toucan (Amazon)

 Gray-Breasted Mountain-Toucan (Baños Zoo)

 Chestnut-Eared Araçari (Amazon by Peter Glasbrenner)

Crimson-Rumped Toucanet (Mindo by Christian Storch)

Toucans do not build nests but use the hollows of trees or abandoned nests of other birds. Females lay 2 to 3 glossy white eggs and both, male and female incubate. The young are born completely naked without any down and blind for the first 3 weeks. Both parents feed the chicks for about 7 to 8 weeks till they leave the nest. As toucans spend all their time on or near trees, they are affected by the ongoing deforestation in the country and some species are endangered. They are also caught in order to be sold as mascots and pets due their beautiful bills or natives use their feathers in ornaments and also like to eat their meat.

Location

Birding Vocabulary