About Toucan Birds

While many people probably recognize toucans' most distinctive characteristic-- their large bills -- most probably do not know much, if anything, about toucans in the wild. There are about 40 different species of toucans, with varying color patterns. They live primarily in rain forests

  1. Latin American Natives

    • Toucans live mostly in South and Central American rain forests, including elevations up to 9,000 feet, but are able to acclimate well to other climates. The most distinctive and largest species of toucan, the toco toucan, is best known for its yellow bill, but toucan bills can be black, blue, brown, red or green.

    Loners

    • Toucans do not like to mix with other birds and do not like to live in big groups, in general. Rather, they tend to live in small groups of six birds or less. Toucans also do not cohabitate peacefully with any other species of toucan. Toucans, in fact, are known to fight with other toucans, but because their bills are quite light they do not make good weapons.

    Diet

    • Toucans are omnivores. They eat insects and sometimes small animals, but largely eat fruits as the main part of their diets. Toucans do not, however, eat seeds like other birds. They eat papayas and bananas, while avoiding citrus fruits such as grapefruits and pineapples. During mating season they tend to eat more insects and small lizards for protein. Toucans also use their long bills to reach into the nests of other birds and snatch and eat their eggs and chicks.

    Life and Appearance

    • Toucans' long bills are lightweight yet strong. They use them primarily to eat fruit that is out of reach or on branches that won't support their weight. Toucans nest in tree holes, with both sexes helping to incubate their eggs. The female lays two to four eggs per year. Toucans grow slowly and when full size the largest species can be 2 feet long. The smallest toucans can be as short as 7 inches long.