Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
Toco Toucan

Toco Toucan

Ramphastos toco

The Toco Toucan, Ramphastos toco, stands as the largest member of the toucan family, Ramphastidae. It boasts a striking plumage with a predominantly black body contrasted by a white throat, chest, and upper tail-coverts, and vivid red undertail-coverts. Its most prominent feature is the substantial yellow-orange beak adorned with a black base and a pronounced spot at the tip.

Identification Tips

This species is unmistakable due to its sizeable bill, which is not only colorful but also the largest relative to body size among birds. The Toco Toucan's eye is typically brown, encircled by a narrow blue ring, with the surrounding orbital skin ranging from sulfur yellow to orange. Juveniles appear duller with shorter bills compared to adults.

Habitat

The Toco Toucan favors semi-open habitats over continuous forests, thriving in environments such as the Brazilian cerrado, gallery forests, and the Pantanal wetlands. It is known to reside at altitudes up to 1,750 meters.

Distribution

Endemic to South America, the Toco Toucan's range extends from the Guianas southward to northern Argentina and Uruguay. Its distribution is expanding southwards, with recent sightings beyond its previously known limits.

Behaviour

The Toco Toucan is less gregarious than its cousins, often seen foraging alone or in small groups. It exhibits a hopping movement through the treetops and is known for its undulating flight pattern. After the breeding season, it may form large flocks in search of fruit.

Song & Calls

Its vocal repertoire includes a variety of grunting, croaking, and snoring sounds reminiscent of toads. The Toco Toucan's calls are deeper and less resonant compared to similar species, with a slower pace in the rapid sections of its calls.

Breeding

Breeding behavior is seasonal, with variations depending on the region. Nests are typically made in tree hollows, and both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs, which hatch after 17-18 days. Chicks fledge approximately 43-52 days post-hatching.

Similar Species

While visually distinct, the Toco Toucan's calls may be confused with those of the Red-breasted and Channel-billed Toucans. However, its vocalizations are notably deeper.

Diet and Feeding

The Toco Toucan is a generalist frugivore, primarily consuming fleshy fruits such as figs, supplemented by insects, eggs, and nestlings of other birds. Its diet varies with habitat, and it plays a crucial role as a seed disperser.

Conservation status

The Toco Toucan is classified as Least Concern by BirdLife International. Its preference for open habitats may benefit from deforestation, although it is hunted for meat and the pet trade, which could impact its population.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Toco Toucans on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Toucans

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Dunners12345
Great App
Great app to use for logging and communicating with others who are interested in birds
Safira V
Birding and wellbeing app
Birda is an excellent platform to share your love of Birding and is a great tool of encouragement for a Birding Beginner like me. Birda has a very kind and supportive community of Birding enthusiasts. For me BIRDA is not only a BIRDING but also a WELLBEING App.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.