Wagler's Toucanet

The Wagler's toucanet, a member of the toucan family Ramphastidae, is a vibrant avian adorned with a strikingly large bill. Adults range from 29 to 37 cm in length and tip the scales at approximately 160 to 200 grams. Both sexes share a similar plumage, though females tend to be marginally smaller with a slightly shorter bill.

Identification Tips

This species boasts a black bill with a prominent yellow stripe along the culmen and an orange-brown stripe at the base. The plumage is predominantly green, lighter on the underside, with a yellowish-white forecrown that transitions to olive and then to a lighter nape. The eye is a dark reddish-brown, encircled by even darker bare skin. The lower face and throat are white with hints of blue, leading to the underparts. The undertail coverts and the tail's underside are a rich chestnut, while the tail's upper surface starts green, shifting to blue and ending with chestnut tips. Juveniles present a grayer hue and less pronounced chestnut on the tail.

Habitat

Wagler's toucanet is a denizen of the humid montane forests within the Sierra Madre del Sur of southwestern Mexico. It also frequents secondary forests, shrublands, pastures, and plantations, adapting to a variety of open landscapes.

Distribution

Endemic to southwestern Mexico, this toucanet is found specifically in the states of Guerrero and western Oaxaca.

Behaviour

A non-migratory bird, the Wagler's toucanet is known for its sociable nature, often forming groups of up to 10 individuals.

Song & Calls

The species communicates with low, frog-like notes that are steadily repeated, creating a rronk-rronk-rronk or wup-wup-wup sound pattern. Occasionally, more emphatic notes punctuate the monotonous repetition. When in flight, their wings produce a distinctive whirring noise.

Breeding

The breeding season spans from March to July. Nesting occurs in tree cavities, either naturally occurring or abandoned by woodpeckers, and can be situated as high as 27 meters above ground. Clutch sizes vary from one to five eggs, with the typical being three or four. Both parents partake in incubation, with the female contributing more time, over a period of 16 days. Fledging takes place 42 to 45 days post-hatching.

Diet and Feeding

Wagler's toucanet employs a gleaning method while foraging, primarily from a perched position. Its diet is diverse, encompassing a wide array of fruits, numerous invertebrates, and vertebrate prey such as small birds, eggs, lizards, and snakes.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Wagler's toucanet as Least Concern, with a population that is believed to be stable and no immediate threats identified. Nonetheless, it remains vulnerable to habitat destruction and is under special protection by Mexican law.