Both the male and the female take part in incubation. Unlike most other birds, keeping it in captivity can be too costly. Keel-billed Toucans are listed among the least concerned birds by International Union for Conservation of Nature, mainly due to their large range in South America. It is also very friendly with humans, as pets or in zoos once trained properly. In the wild, this species prefers to stay in lowland rain forest regions. The average size of a Keel-billed Toucan is around inches in length and weighs around 500 grams.
Keel-Billed Toucan
- The toucan’s very broad wings, however, are heavy and make flight laborious.
- When eating the fruit, it uses its bill to dissect the fruit, and then tosses its head back to swallow the fruit whole.
- Keel -billed Toucan, also known as Sulphur-breasted Toucan, is a small social playful bird mainly found in Central and South America.
- They consume their food by grasping it with their bill and quickly flipping it up into the air and catching it in their mouths.
- With each wing measuring around 18–20 centimetres, the keel-billed toucan molts, or sheds its feathers, just once a year.
Although listed as a species of Least Concern by IUCN, numbers of Keel-Billed Toucan are known to be declining. Hunted for meat and their beaks, and captured for the illegal pet trade has had a significant impact on their numbers in the wild. Forest degradation, illegal logging and the effects of climate change have contributed to a general trend of falling populations across all toucan sub species. The species is not currently listed as endangered, but it is threatened by human activity. Habitat loss is a constant menace to the species’ populations. They are sometimes still hunted for their meat and ornamental feathers.
Beak-side story. Keel-billed toucan, Costa Rica
At one time, they were very popular in the pet trade but it has since been revealed that their poor disposition actually makes them bad pets. They’re valuable to Belize — where they are the national bird — bringing tourists who hope to catch a glimpse of their stunning plumage. The bill, surprisingly dexterous, allows this toucan to utilize a large variety of fruit that might not otherwise be reached. When eating the fruit, it uses its bill to dissect the fruit, and then tosses its head back to swallow the fruit whole. After hatching, the male and female again take turns feeding the chicks. When the chicks hatch, they have no feathers, and have their eyes closed for approximately 3 weeks.
Diet
Keel -billed Toucan, also known as Sulphur-breasted Toucan, is a small social playful bird mainly found in Central and South America. Its bill is one of the most colorful beaks in the bird world. This bird is also known as Rainbow-billed Toucan. This species has huge popularity in zoos around the world, primarily because of its colorful long beak, among all ages. Both males and the females are known to reach sexual maturity at the age of three years. Female Keel-billed can lay up to four white colored eggs in one clutch.
As Pets
- Both the male and the female feed and look after its chicks.
- Their bill is adapted to their diet and toucans will dissect their fruit and then toss it back to swallow it whole.
- A pet Keel-billed Toucan need to feed it with different kinds of fruits and berries like papaya, grapes etc.
- Hunted for meat and their beaks, and captured for the illegal pet trade has had a significant impact on their numbers in the wild.
- The Keel-billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize.
The plumage of the keel-billed toucan is mainly black, with a yellow neck and chest, red under-tail coverts, and a narrow red band at the base of the yellow on the chest. Moulting occurs once per year.10 It has blue feet and red feathers at the tip of its tail. In some markets of the world Keel-billed Toucans are available for sale, as these birds are very popular as pets.
One thought on “Keel-Billed Toucan”
Keel-billed Toucan can be a good pet as it is a friendly and intelligent bird. These birds can be easily trained to perform tricks. A pet Keel-billed Toucan need to feed it with different kinds of fruits and berries like papaya, grapes etc. This species primarily feeds on different kinds of fruits and berries, especially small in size.
Spot a flash of yellow on its chest and a bill that looks painted by an artist—that’s the keel-billed toucan. A member of the Ramphastidae family, which includes toucan barbets, it is one of more than 40 toucan species. Found from southern Mexico to northern Colombia, it spends much of its day plucking fruit with a rainbow-coloured bill about one-third of its total length.
It also eats insects, eggs and small reptiles when available. The bill not only helps it eat but also keeps the toucan cool by radiating excess heat—thanks to the blood vessels running through it. This social bird often moves in small groups, chattering and gliding between treetops. With each wing measuring around 18–20 centimetres, the keel-billed toucan molts, or sheds its feathers, just once a year. Keel-billed toucans feed mostly on fruits but are also known to eat insects, lizards, tree frogs and even eggs.
Though this bird is not a good flyer yet it can reach around 35 mile per hour. The Keel-billed Toucan is the national bird of Belize.
Both the male and the female feed and look after its chicks. New born chicks have no feathers and eyes closed for around 20 days. The chicks take almost eight weeks to be ready to fly. It often engages in a duel with other birds within its group, throwing fruits at each other by using its long beak. Keel-billed Toucan tends to live around tropical, subtropical and lowland rainforests. It nests in natural tree holes, or made by woodpecker, primarily on tree tops and often with other family members.
One can often see it eating the whole fruit, usually picking it up with its bill, tossing it up and swallow it whole. While sleeping in the tree hole, it sleeps with its bill and tail tucked under its body to make space for other family members. In the wild, the main predators of Keel-billed Toucan are large birds of prey. Snakes, weasels and other birds of prey are found to target its egg. In recent times, humans have become one of its main enemies as this bird is captured for illegal trade. Generally, it takes around 20 days to plant assets refer to nonphysical assets that are used in the operations of a business. hatch the eggs.