Another hard identification without sound. Perhaps not even possible. I still feel size of bird + size of bill should make bird 1 White-throated, and bird 3 for a channel-billed. Bird 2 seems intermediate, so perhaps that one should stay sp. Or should all of them be changed to sp?
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Ecuador- White-throated Toucan (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Liebzi
- Start date
In good conditions you can often see the "channel" extending from top/base towards bottom/tip. I don't see it on any of your images. However, ebird headline images include some for channel-billed where the channel doesn't show, such as:
macaulaylibrary.org
macaulaylibrary.org
so perhaps this is variable.
ML62007031 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML62007031; © Jerome Foster; Siparia, Trinidad and Tobago
ML25151201 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML25151201; © Edwin Munera; Antioquia, Colombia
so perhaps this is variable.
The two onces you have sent is different ssp. than occouring in Ecuador. Channel-billed looks like this, and pretty similar to white-thrated: ML204878691 - Channel-billed Toucan (Yellow-ridged) - Macaulay LibraryIn good conditions you can often see the "channel" extending from top/base towards bottom/tip. I don't see it on any of your images. However, ebird headline images include some for channel-billed where the channel doesn't show, such as:
ML62007031 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML62007031; © Jerome Foster; Siparia, Trinidad and TobagoML25151201 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML25151201; © Edwin Munera; Antioquia, Colombia
so perhaps this is variable.
Perhaps not possible to idenitify any of the 3 OP birds....
Yes I know but it's the bill which is the important point. In your linked image the channel is present but weakly so.
I'm unclear there's any way to tell these 2 apart other than by voice and channel (where present). In the field with a direct comparison or if the sizes are extreme you might be able to figure it out on size
Ridgely and Greenfield points to the bill being longer in White-throated and especially in males. They say with care, the length can be used even on single birds. They do not use the word channel but describes that the culmen has a keel which is described as a slightly protruding ridge along the culmen. I feel I see that on the third image, and possibly also on the second. I think with more enlargement, it should be possible to discern whether it is there or not on the first image.
Therefore, I will go out on a limb and say the third one most likely Channel-billed.
Niels
Therefore, I will go out on a limb and say the third one most likely Channel-billed.
Niels
if you look at (e.g.) Birds of Peru book you'll see the difference between the white throated "slightly protruding ridge" and the channel-billed channel. When visible, channel doesn't exactly follow the edge of the top of the bill (isn't parallel with it) but slants more or less linearly from the top of the bill downwards (tipwards). It's illustrated well here:
ML48690021 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML48690021; © Jerome Foster; Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago
In contrast, a flattened ridge which follows the top edge of the bill is present on this white-throated toucan:
ML379166731 - White-throated Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML379166731; © Jory Teltser; Cuzco [Cusco], Peru
As you'll see from the previous discussion, the channel isn't always visible. I think a bird with the linear downwards channel is definitely channel-billed, but a bird with a ridge or no clear channel may or may not be.
I don't fully understand where you are looking at, to see a lineal downwards channel. Is it in the yellow, green area at the base of the bill?if you look at (e.g.) Birds of Peru book you'll see the difference between the white throated "slightly protruding ridge" and the channel-billed channel. When visible, channel doesn't exactly follow the edge of the top of the bill (isn't parallel with it) but slants more or less linearly from the top of the bill downwards (tipwards). It's illustrated well here:
[Once again, the ssp here isn't important]
ML48690021 - Channel-billed Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML48690021; © Jerome Foster; Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago
In contrast, a flattened ridge which follows the top edge of the bill is present on this white-throated toucan:
ML379166731 - White-throated Toucan - Macaulay Library
Macaulay Library ML379166731; © Jory Teltser; Cuzco [Cusco], Peru
As you'll see from the previous discussion, the channel isn't always visible. I think a bird with the linear downwards channel is definitely channel-billed, but a bird with a ridge or no clear channel may or may not be.
I agree that the 3. picture should be Channel-billed becuase of size, but look at these 2 individuals. Can you use your ridge fieldmark here:
Channel-billed: ML205002491 - Channel-billed Toucan (Yellow-ridged) - Macaulay Library
White-throated: ML463430531 - White-throated Toucan - Macaulay Library
I see what you mean now. I just edited the photo 3 a bit, seems like it have the faintest channel. This one should be good to go channel-billed, or will you still mean it is to faint?
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I'm really not certain about this one. I don't see a clear channel, but on the other hand the bill does appear small (I do see a ridge at the top of the bill—but white-throated can show this). It's a shame 'coz it's a good picture...