Sulfur-breasted toucan, Rainbow-billed toucan
The Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) is a colorful Latin American member of the toucan family. It lives in tropical jungles and feeds on a wide variety of food. Keel-billed toucans are very social birds that often play or often "duel" with each other using their bills, and throw fruit into each other's mouths.
The plumage of the Keel-billed toucan is mainly black with a yellow neck and chest. Molting occurs once per year. It has blue feet and red feathers at the tip of its tail. The bill is mainly green with a red tip and orange sides. While the bill seems large and cumbersome, it is in fact a spongy, hollow bone covered in keratin, a very light and hard protein. Keel-billed toucans have zygodactyl feet (or feet with toes 2 and 3 facing forwards, and toes 1 and 4 facing backward) - two toes face forward and two face back. Because toucans spend a large portion of time in the trees, this helps the birds to stay on the branches of the trees and jump from one branch to another.
Keel-billed toucans are found from Southern Mexico to Venezuela and Colombia. They don't migrate and live in tropical, subtropical, and lowland rainforests.
Keel-billed toucans are very social birds, rarely seen alone. They fly in small flocks of approximately 6 to 12 individuals through jungles. Their flight is slow and undulating, consisting of rapid wing beats, then a glide with the bird's beak extending forward and dipping downward as though pulling the rest of the bird. Their feet are drawn up forward in flight. The flight distances are typically short. They live together in groups, often sharing cramped living quarters of holes in trees and there is a family structure within the group. Keel-billed toucans are diurnal spending most of their time in tree canopies and at night they roost in holes in trees, often with several other toucans. These are very playful birds that often "duel" with each other using their bills, and throw fruit into each other's mouths. They also 'play ball', one throwing fruit in the air and a second seizing it.
Keel-billed toucans are herbivorous (frugivorous) birds that feed mainly on a wide range of fruit but may also eat insects, eggs, nestlings, and lizards.
It is believed that Keel-billed toucans form serially monogamous pairs that stay together at least throughout the year. The female lays 1 to 4 white eggs in a natural or already-made tree cavity. Both parents share in caring for the eggs and both take turns incubating. The eggs hatch approximately 15-20 days after being laid. After hatching, the male and female again take turns feeding the chicks. The chicks hatch altricial; they have no feathers and have their eyes closed for approximately 3 weeks. The young stay in their nest for approximately 8 to 9 weeks while their bills develop fully and they are ready to fledge from the nest.
Keel-billed toucans are widespread and are not endangered at present. However, these birds are still threatened by hunting for their meat and beaks, and the populations of this species are on a decreasing trend.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Keel-billed toucan population size is around 50,000-499,999 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
The keel-billed toucan is sometimes kept in captivity, but it requires a high-fruit diet and is sensitive to hemochromatosis (an iron storage disease).
