Toucans, South America, canopy rainforest, bright-orange, yellow beak, Toco, common Toucan, nests tree holes, beak grows as they develop, endangered.
Toucans are found in South and Central America in the canopy layer of the rainforest. When they sleep, they turn their heads around and tuck their bills under their wings and tail. The toucan is very important to the rainforest because they help to disperse seeds from the fruits and berries they eat. A toucan's bill is sharp and has saw-like edges. The bill is used to squash the many kinds of fruit and berries he eats. He may also use the saw-like edges to tear off parts of larger fruits. Also included in their diet are small birds and lizards. Toucans make their homes in holes in trees. They usually live in pairs or small flocks. White, glossy eggs are laid once a year and when they hatch, the new chicks have no down covering them. There are about 40 different kinds of toucans. They vary in size from about 7 inches to a little over two feet. They have short and thick necks. Toucans are distinguished by large, colorful, yet lightweight bills. The color of the bill may be black, blue, brown, green, red, white, yellow or a combination of colors. The bright colors on his bill help to attract a mate. Toucans also have a narrow, feather-like tongue. They can be noisy birds with their calls sounding harsh and raspy. Toucans are very rare pets mostly because of their high price range and extremely sensitive diet, along with their confusing body language that unless you're used to can be quite intimidating with such a large beak! Unlike parrots, toucans don't necessarily bite, they jab and as they mature their beaks become serrated so this jab, followed by a tight grip and constant thrashing can be quite painful if no training has been implemented to build a sense of communication between person and bird. With their playful personalities and ability to play a great game of catch – they can be amazingly intelligent and fun loving birds to have in the home and share with a family.
Size: 3456px × 5184px
Location: Mexico 2012
Photo credit: © Steve Welsh / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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