Keel-billed Toucan

The Keel-billed Toucan is one of the most recognizable birds of the American tropics, with mostly glossy black plumage set off by a bright yellow face, throat, and breast, a patch of red beneath the tail, and blue legs and feet. Its most striking feature by far is the huge, laterally flattened bill, marked in bands of green, orange, red, and blue, that can rival the length of the body itself yet is remarkably light thanks to its hollow, honeycombed internal structure.

A highly social bird of the rainforest canopy, it typically travels in small, noisy flocks, hopping between branches and using its oversized bill to reach fruit at the tips of slender twigs that would not support its weight directly, as well as to raid the nests of smaller birds.

Key field marks

• Mostly black body with a bright yellow face, throat, and chest
• Massive, laterally flattened bill striped in green, orange, red, and blue
• Patch of red feathers beneath the tail
• Blue legs and feet

Similar species

• Chestnut-mandibled (Black-mandibled) Toucan has a much larger, mostly black bill with a chestnut-brown lower mandible, lacking the rainbow banding of the Keel-billed Toucan.
• Emerald Toucanet is much smaller and mostly green, with a far smaller bill, easily distinguishing it despite the shared family resemblance.

Habitat

Inhabits lowland and foothill tropical rainforest, secondary forest, and forest edge, favoring the canopy and subcanopy.

Range

Found from southern Mexico through Central America to northern Colombia and Venezuela.

Migration

Generally non-migratory, though it may make local movements in response to fruiting patterns.

Behavior

Highly social, usually seen in small flocks of six or more birds moving through the canopy together, hopping between branches rather than making long flights; also known to raid the nests of smaller birds for eggs and chicks.

Voice

A far-carrying, monotonous croaking call often likened to a frog, repeated persistently, especially at dawn and dusk.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on fruit plucked from the canopy using the tip of its long bill, supplemented with insects, small lizards, and the eggs or nestlings of other birds.

Nesting

Nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, often shared cooperatively by several adults; lays 2-4 white eggs.