Curl-crested Aracari

The Curl-crested Aracari is one of the most bizarre-looking birds of the Amazon rainforest canopy, instantly recognizable by its extraordinary crown of tightly curled, glossy black feathers that give the impression of a helmet made of patent leather or plastic. This unique feather structure sets it apart from every other toucan and aracari species.

Below the curled crown, the face and throat are black, the back is chestnut to olive, and the underparts are bright yellow crossed by a reddish band across the belly, a pattern shared broadly with other aracari species in the genus Pteroglossus. The large bill is boldly patterned in shades of yellow, black, and sometimes reddish tones, adding to the bird's striking overall appearance.

Aracaris are more social than many larger toucans, and Curl-crested Aracaris are typically found in small, active flocks moving through the canopy together, often roosting communally in tree cavities.

Key field marks

• Crown of glossy, tightly curled black feathers, unique among toucans
• Black face and throat
• Chestnut to olive back, bright yellow underparts crossed by a reddish band
• Large, boldly patterned yellow-and-black bill

Similar species

No other aracari or toucan shares the Curl-crested Aracari's distinctive curled crown feathers, making it essentially unmistakable within its range once seen clearly; other Pteroglossus aracaris have smooth, normal head feathering rather than curls.

Habitat

The Curl-crested Aracari inhabits the canopy and upper mid-story of humid lowland forest, generally in less disturbed forest with tall trees.

Range

It has a relatively restricted range in the western Amazon basin, including parts of Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia.

Migration

It is a non-migratory, sedentary resident of its forest range.

Behavior

Curl-crested Aracaris are social birds, typically traveling in small, noisy flocks through the canopy, and multiple individuals often roost together in a single tree cavity at night, sometimes in surprisingly cramped, tail-folded postures.

Voice

Calls include sharp, repeated, squeaky or croaking notes typical of aracaris, given as flock members communicate while moving through the canopy.

Feeding

It feeds on a mix of fruit, insects, and occasionally small vertebrates, nestlings, or eggs raided from other birds' nests, using its large bill to reach and manipulate food.

Nesting and breeding

Like other aracaris, it nests in a natural tree cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole, and breeding pairs may receive help from other flock members in raising the young, a form of cooperative breeding documented in several Pteroglossus aracaris.