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Taxonomic Character
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Ramphastos (large beak)
Species: R. toco
Scientific name: Ramphastos toco
Common name: Toco Toucan, Giant Toucan, Toucan
Description: Striking plumage
Blue iris White throat, chest and red under tail coverts Huge bill (6.2-9.1 in) 500-876g body weight
Distribution: Eastern Bolivia
South Eastern Peru Northern Argentina Eastern and Central Paraguay Eastern and Southern Brazil Amazon River Guianas DISTRIBUTION
Toco toucans (Ramphastos toco) thrive over a wide range of habitats and locations throughout much of the Neotropical region. They are native to the countries of Argentina, Peru, French Guiana, Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname, and Brazil. Studies have shown a correlation between the wide range of R. toco and the availability of fleshy fruits, which make up the majority of the toucan's diet.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
FOOD GATHERING
The Toco Toucan eats mainly fruit using its beak, however, they will also occasionally eat insects, reptiles and bird eggs. Toco Toucans nest and roost in holes in trees
Toco toucans are canopy frugivores whose diet is composed mainly of fruits, but they are considered to be an opportunistic feeder. They also occasionally feed on various types of insects and eggs of other birds, including those of endangered hyacinth macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Their broad geographical range of habitats is due in part to their foraging behavior and their diet of briefly- available fruits. The food sources include the fruits from trees such as genipapo (Genipa americana), agarrapolo (Ficus luschnathiana), ambay pumpwood (Cecropia pachystachya).
The large bills of toco toucans are the main foraging tool that allows the birds to reach into tree holes and to grasp fruits from surrounding branches. Toco toucans are unique in that they does not use their tongue in the process of swallowing food. Instead, they place a piece of fruit between the very end of their beak and lean their head back at an approximately 180 degree angle. This causes the food item to project directly into the pharynx.
Animal Foods: amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects
Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit
Primary Diet: herbivore (Frugivore )
MATING: monogamous
The large colorful bills of toco toucans are often thought to be used in mate choice, but there are no specific studies that lead to this conclusion. However, it is known that this species uses its bill to gather fruit that is used in the bird's mating ritual. This courtship ritual consists of either the male or female initiating a fruit toss with its potential mate. After this ritual has been carried out, the male mates with the female.
REPRODUCTION
The breeding season for toco toucans occurs in the spring. Tree cavities are the typical nesting site where a single clutch of 2 to 4 eggs are laid by the female. Toco toucans breed yearly and have altricial young. The hatchlings are bare-skinned, close-eyed, and helpless until approximately 6 to 8 weeks later. At this time, the young begin to develop their characteristic beak and will soon fledge. Toco toucans become sexually mature in 3 to 4 years.
HABITAT
Unlike other toucans, Toco Toucans are not prevalent in closed-canopy forests. Instead, they inhabit gallery forests, interior savannas, palm groves, forest edges near rivers and coastal areas, forest patches, open woodlands, secondary forest, chaco, vegetated islands, plantations, scrub, or orchards.
Toco toucans are most commonly found in dry semi-open areas, which include regions such as woodland, savanna, plantations, and other regions that consist of scattered trees. In Brazil, toco toucans have been found in abundance in the "cerrado." Brazil's cerrado consists of savanna, semidecidious, and gallery forests surrounding river corridors. They are canopy frugivores that rely heavily on the availability of seasonal fruiting plants. Toco toucans therefore move from one habitat and region to the next in order to satisfy their dietary needs. This species is typically found at lowland elevations. However they have been sighted in elevations up to 1750 m around the Andes mountain range of South America.
Range elevation: 1750 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest ; scrub forest
Other Habitat Features: riparian
Republic of the Philippines Mariano Marcos State University COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION Laoag City
