The Fiery-Billed Toucan (Pteroglossus frantzii) is 43 cm long and weighs 250g. It is one of the most beautiful birds in the forest. Bird watchers come from all over to view it in its natural habitat. The Fiery billed toucan’s skin is olive-black. It has a dark band across its rustic-yellow underbelly. Its beak is two-tone black and fiery orange. Toucans live in almost any kind of forest in the neutropic from Central America to northern Argentina. The rain forest that the toucans live in is very dense and warm. The plants of the rain forest are very important to the ecology of the earth. The plants make oxygen for the earth. Also the plants are used for drugs that fight diseases. Toucans do well in the rain forest because they do not like cold weather. They also help replenish the trees by dropping seeds when they are eating.

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There are 40 different species of toucans. Some of these species are endangered. The Pteroglossus frantzii is not however. Scientists have found that this species produces enough offspring to replace the birds that die. The toucan’s bill is what they use to gather food. Their food is primarily fruit. Palm fruit such as Mauritian, figs and guava are their favorites. They also eat small lizards and snakes. Toucans compete with many other species of birds for their food.

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Toucans must be careful when hunting for prey or they could become dinner of their enemies. They have to worry about big cats, owls, big snakes, kangaroos, jaguars and yes even us!! The toucan can hide in holes in the trees to evade these animals. The toucan is a very beautiful bird. Its large beak and bright feathers makes it unique. Did you know that toucans are marketing symbols for breakfast cereal, hotels, travel and phone companies and even beer companies? Toucans can fold back their tail onto their back. This allows them to nest in the tree holes. The holes would be too small for the bird’s huge beak if they couldn’t do this. Also toucans have feathers on their tongue.

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Author: Mackenzie T

Published: 02/2007

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Bibliography:

HTTP:// www.plantea.com/plantea/98/0898toucan.html HTTP://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/P/Pteroglossus_frantzii.asp HTTP://www.junglephotos.com/amazon/amanimals/ambirds/toucansnathist.shtml

 

Photo Credit: Raynald Claveau, 1996-2007 © Oiseaux.net