TOCO TOUCAN Ramphastos toco ©Laura Quick The largest toucan species, the toco toucan is an impressive bird with a huge orange bill with a black tip and base. The body is mostly black with a white throat, and rump, and a red vent. Dark eyes are surrounded by orange and blue skin. Found in savanna and open woodland, avoiding humid forests. Makes a raucous far carrying croaking “wreh” call, and flies with noisy wingbeats. Toco toucans also use their beaks to pluck and peel fruit, their main source of food. In addition, the beak houses a flat tongue of the same length, which helps the toucan catch insects, frogs, and reptiles. Toco toucans also occasionally eat the eggs of other birds. Although they spend a lot of time in trees, they are not very good at flying. Toucans mainly travel among trees by hopping. When they do take flight, they flap their wings vigorously and glide, traveling only short distances. #tocotoucan #ramphastostoco #©lauraquick #piciformes #ramphastidae #centralamerica #southamerica #leastconcern #zygodactyl #fructivore #santabarbarazoo #santabarbara https://www.instagram.com/p/B5cbCc7njSE/?igshid=14aulbdswduv5
