Toucans/Aracari/Toucanet
From Costa Rica Travel Guide: Vacation and Travel tips
Toucans/Aracari/Toucanet
Latin America is home to 42 species of toucans, six of these are found in the lowlands and rainforests of Costa Rica. Toucans, especially of the ‘Fruit Loop’ variety, are some of the most recognizable birds on the planet, thanks to their often, very colorful and oversized beaks. In Costa Rica, these colorful, social birds can be spotted in Carara National Park, Cahuita National Park, Tortuguero National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, the Osa Peninsula and many parts of the Central Valley and Guanacaste Province. From Costa Rica’s Pacific slope to the Caribbean lowlands the following toucans can be spotted: chestnut-mandibled, keel-billed, emerald toucanet, yellow-eared toucanet, fiery-billed aracari and the collared aracari.
Although color and size variations exist between toucan species, they are all frugivores. Occasionally the toucan will dine on insets, spiders, small lizards, snakes, and the eggs and hatchlings of other birds, but mainly toucans sustain themselves on fruits such as papaya, cecropia, small seeded berries, and palm.
Costa Rica’s largest species of toucan is the chestnut-mandibled toucan. Its multi-colored body is typically black with a yellow bib, and its large bill is brown on the lower half and bright yellow on the upper.
The keel-billed toucan is also a large toucan that is all black with brilliant yellow face, throat and chest, and red vent. The very large bill is a colorful combination of green, orange, red, and blue. The keel-billed toucan is thought to be the prettiest of the Costa Rican toucans.
The Emerald Toucanet is also brightly marked and has a large bill. This toucan is a popular pet, due to its small size and quite disposition. It is also affectionate and quick to learn tricks.
The Collared Aracari has a black head and chest and dark olive green underparts, apart from a red rump and upper tail. The thighs are chestnut and the underparts are bright yellow, with a round black spot in the centre of the breast as well as a red-tinted black band across the belly.
The toucanets average 29-36cm and 200g, which are slightly smaller then their Aracari cousins at 42cm and 240g.
Toucans are very social birds and are not usually seen alone. Usually, they travel in small flocks averaging six to twelve individuals and toucans aren’t known for their exceptional flying capabilities as they move mostly by hopping though trees. Within a group, there is a family structure and birds will often “duel” with each other using their bills or flick fruit in each other’s mouths during play.
Toucans roost in the holes of decayed trees, and often these trees are 6-60 feet off the forest floor. Space can be at a premium and can often be cramped, so the birds tuck their tails and beaks under their bodies to conserve space while sleeping. Toucans don’t seem to care about their living quarters since they don’t bother lining the nest with anything besides pits from the fruit and regurgitated seeds.
A male and female remain together through the entire nesting season, foraging and taking on parenting duties as a team. They are quite affectionate with each other, grooming, preening and feeding each other fruit. The female will usually lay a clutch of 2-4 eggs and have 2-3 clutches a year. Both male and female take turns incubating the eggs. The nestlings are born blind and naked after 16-19 days or so of incubation. They will remain in the nest for approximately 8-9 weeks until their able to fly and their beaks have fully matured.
The toucan population in Costa Rica is safe for now, but there’s always a threat due to deforestation and loss of habitat. Hopefully through education and raising awareness of the importance of protecting this beautiful country, the toucan will continue to flourish.
