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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | [[Image:White-throated_Toucan_Stanley.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Locality: Río Tambopata, Madre de Dios Department, [[Peru]], August-2018]] | ||
A large Toucan with a total length of 55-60 cm. (22-24 in). Males are larger and longer-billed than females. The belly, upperparts and tail are black, the throat and chest are white, the crissum and a relatively narrow chest-band are red, the uppertail coverts are yellow, the ocular skin is blue, the base of the bill is yellow and blue, and the culmen and bill-tip are yellow. There are three subspecies (''see Distribution & Taxonomy''), which mainly differ in the colour of the bill: | A large Toucan with a total length of 55-60 cm. (22-24 in). Males are larger and longer-billed than females. The belly, upperparts and tail are black, the throat and chest are white, the crissum and a relatively narrow chest-band are red, the uppertail coverts are yellow, the ocular skin is blue, the base of the bill is yellow and blue, and the culmen and bill-tip are yellow. There are three subspecies (''see Distribution & Taxonomy''), which mainly differ in the colour of the bill: | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 24 January 2019
- Ramphastos tucanus
Identification
A large Toucan with a total length of 55-60 cm. (22-24 in). Males are larger and longer-billed than females. The belly, upperparts and tail are black, the throat and chest are white, the crissum and a relatively narrow chest-band are red, the uppertail coverts are yellow, the ocular skin is blue, the base of the bill is yellow and blue, and the culmen and bill-tip are yellow. There are three subspecies (see Distribution & Taxonomy), which mainly differ in the colour of the bill:
- Red-billed Toucan (R. t. tucanus):
The main section of the bill is reddish-brown.
- Cuvier's Toucan (R. t. cuvieri):
The main section of the bill is black (no reddish-brown).
- Inca Toucan (R. t. inca):
The main section of the bill is black, with some redddish-brown on the central part of the bill.
The Red-billed Toucan and the Inca Toucan are easily recognized by the diagnostic reddish-brown patches on the bill. Cuvier's Toucan is very similar to the Yellow-ridged Toucan, but can be recognize by its larger size, its proportionally longer bill, and its "flatter" (less keeled) culmen. Their voices also differ, with Cuvier's Toucan having a yelping voice similar to that of the Red-billed and the Inca Toucan, but unlike the croaking voice of the Yellow-ridged Toucan.
Distribution
It is widespread in the Amazon region in South America, with R. t. tucanus in the north-eastern part of its range (E. Venezuela, the Guianas and NE Brazil), R. t. cuvieri in the western and south-central Amazon (SW Venezuela, SE Colombia, E. Ecuador, E. Peru and W. and C. Brazil), R. t. inca in northern Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Previously, this species was split into two species, with R. tucanus being a monotypic species, and R. cuvieri including inca as a subspecies. However, they all interbreed freely wherever their ranges meet, leading to large areas populated by individuals showing some level of intermediacy between the "true" races. It is possible R. t. inca actually is a semi-stable hybrid population between R. t. tucanus and R. t. cuvieri.
Habitat
Found in various forested habitats, mainly (but not exclusively) humid. Mainly in lowlands, but locally to an altitude of 1500 m (5000 ft). It is generally fairly common.
Behaviour
Omnivorious and highly opportunistic. Food includes various fruits, insects, reptiles and small birds (esp. nestlings of e.g. the Yellow-rumped Cacique). Breeding is largely seasonal, but exact timing differ between regions. The 2-3 eggs are placed in a tree cavity. Both sexes participate in incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.
