Collared Aracari

The Collared Aracari is a smaller, more slender relative of the large toucans, with a glossy black head, throat, and upper back that give way to a bright yellow belly marked by a black breast band and a patch of red spots along the flanks. A thin band of chestnut-red feathers around the hindneck, for which it is named, adds a further splash of color to an already boldly patterned bird.

Its long, curved bill is strikingly bicolored, pale ivory or yellowish above and mostly black below, and along with its long tail gives it a distinctly elegant silhouette compared to the bulkier large toucans, as small, active flocks move through the mid-canopy in search of fruit.

Key field marks

• Slender build with a long tail and long, curved, bicolored bill (pale above, dark below)
• Glossy black head, throat, and upper back
• Bright yellow underparts crossed by a black breast band and red spotting on the flanks
• Narrow chestnut collar around the hindneck

Similar species

• Fiery-billed Aracari, found further south along the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and Panama, has an almost entirely orange-red bill rather than the pale-and-black bill of the Collared Aracari.
• Large toucans such as the Keel-billed Toucan are much bulkier with proportionally much bigger bills, lacking the slim build of the aracari.

Habitat

Inhabits humid lowland forest, forest edge, second growth, and clearings with scattered fruiting trees.

Range

Found from eastern Mexico through Central America to Colombia and Venezuela.

Migration

Non-migratory, though flocks may wander locally in search of fruiting trees.

Behavior

Highly social, typically moving in small flocks of six to twelve birds through the mid and upper canopy; often roosts communally in tree cavities, with several birds packing into a single hole at night.

Voice

A sharp, high-pitched "pseek" or squeaky call, repeated frequently as flock members keep in contact.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on fruit, supplemented with insects, small lizards, and occasionally the eggs or nestlings of smaller birds.

Nesting

Nests cooperatively in tree cavities, often old woodpecker holes, with helpers sometimes assisting the breeding pair; lays 2-4 white eggs.