Toco Toucan

Ramphastos toco

The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), also known as the common toucan or giant toucan, is the largest and probably the best known species in the toucan family. It is found in semi-open habitats throughout a large part of central and eastern South America. It is a common attraction in zoos. The toco toucan has conspicuously contrasting plumage with a mainly black body, a white throat, chest and uppertail-coverts, and red undertail-coverts. What appears to be a blue iris is actually thin blue skin around the eye. This blue skin is surrounded by another ring of bare, orange skin. The most noticeable feature, however, is its huge bill, which measures from 15.8 to 23 cm in length, which is yellow-orange, tending to deeper reddish-orange on its lower sections and culmen, and with a black base and large spot on the tip. It looks heavy, but as in other toucans it is relatively light because the inside largely is hollow. The tongue is nearly as long as the bill and very flat. This species is the largest toucan and the largest representative of the order Piciformes. The total length of the species is 55–65 cm. Other than the size difference, there are no external differences between the sexes. Juveniles are duller and shorter-billed than adults. Its voice consists of a deep, coarse croaking, often repeated every few seconds. It also has a rattling call and will bill-clack.
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Toco Toucans on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦆
Jéssica Lana de Mattos
Saturday 18 Feb 2023 - 12:00am
Brazil
A map showing the sighting location
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Dale Smith
Monday 07 Nov 2022 - 8:29am
Brazil
A photo of a Toco Toucan photographed in  Brazil
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Elcio Reis
Sunday 31 Jan 2021 - 6:01pm
Brazil
A photo of a Toco Toucan photographed in  Brazil
🦆
Jéssica Lana de Mattos
Saturday 07 Dec 2019 - 12:00am
Brazil
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