People in some parts of Central and South America avoid keel-billed toucans due to widespread belief that these birds are associated with demons and evil spirits. Keel-billed toucan is national bird of Belize. Keel-billed toucans reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 to 4 years. Both parents provide food for their chicks until they become ready to leave the nest at the age of 8 to 9 weeks. Both male and female take part in the incubation of eggs that lasts 16 to 20 days. Keel-billed toucans are monogamous birds that mate from March to June.įemale lays 1 to 4 eggs in the cavities of trees.
#Keel billed toucan skin
It has red and white coverts under and on top of its tail, green skin around the eyes and lore (the area between the eyes and the bill), a yellow face and throat, and blue legs. Snakes, monkeys, weasels and other birds prey on eggs. The keel-billed toucan is a large bird with mostly black plumage and a very large multi-colored bill. Natural enemies of keel-billed toucans are birds of prey and humans. Keel-billed toucans use loud, frog-like calls (that can be heard 0.5 mile away) for communication. It travels through the jungle in groups of 6 to 15 birds, throws fruit into the mouth of other birds and uses beak to "fight" with its playmates. Keel-billed toucan is very social and playful bird. They all sleep with bills tucked under the body to make room for other birds in the group. Keel-billed toucan lives in the tree holes together with 5 to 6 other birds. Eggs, insects, lizards and frogs are occasionally on the menu. Its diet is based mostly on the fruit and berries. It moves mostly via hopping (from branch to branch). Keel-billed toucan is not very good flyer. It probably plays important role during the mating season and serves as a weapon against predators. Bill doesn't affect stability of the bird. It is made of light-weight protein called keratin and its internal structure is spongy. Even though it is very large, bill is not heavy. Keel-billed toucan has beautifully colored bill that is combination of green, yellow, orange and red color, hence the nickname rainbow-billed toucan.īill is usually 4.7 to 5.9 inches long (nearly 1/3 of body length). Tip of a tail is red and feet are blue-colored. Keel-billed toucan has black body and yellow face and throat with green skin around eyes. Keel-billed toucan can reach 17 to 22 inches in height and 4.7 to 8.8 pounds of weight. Despite these factors, keel-billed toucan is still widespread and numerous in the wild. Major threats for the survival of keel-billed toucan are habitat destruction and uncontrolled hunting (because of the meat and beak). Keel-billed toucan inhabits tropical and subtropical rainforests (from the lowlands to the altitude of 6.200 feet). It can be found from southern Mexico to northern Columbia. Keel-billed toucan is large South American bird that belongs to the family of toucans.
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