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The keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), also known as sulfur-breasted toucan or rainbow-billed toucan, is a colorful Latin American member of the toucan family. It is the national bird of Belize.[3] The species is found in tropical jungles from southern Mexico to Colombia. It is an omnivorous forest bird that feeds on fruits, seeds, insects, invertebrates, lizards, snakes, and small birds and their eggs.[4]

Keel-billed toucan
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Piciformes
Family:	Ramphastidae
Genus:	Ramphastos
Species:	R. sulfuratus
Binomial name
Ramphastos sulfuratus Lesson, 1830
Subspecies
See text

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:[5]

• R. s. sulfuratus – Lesson, 1830: Found in south-eastern Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala
• R. s. brevicarinatus – Gould, 1854: Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-eastern Guatemala to northern Colombia and north-western Venezuela

Description

Including its bill, the keel-billed toucan ranges in length from around 42 to 55 cm (17 to 22 in).[6] Their large and colorful bill averages around 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in), about one-third of its length. It typically weighs about 380–500 g (13–18 oz).[7] While the bill seems large and cumbersome, it is in fact a spongy, hollow bone covered in keratin, a very light and hard protein.

The plumage of the keel-billed toucan is mainly black with a yellow neck and chest. Molting occurs once per year.[8] 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.

Keel-billed toucans have zygodactyl feet (or feet with toes 2 and 3 facing forwards, and toes 1 and 4 facing backwards) – 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.

Distribution and habitat

The keel-billed toucan can be found from Southern Mexico to Venezuela and Colombia. It roosts in the canopies of tropical, subtropical, and lowland rainforests, up to altitudes of 1,900 m (6,200 ft).[9] It roosts in holes in trees,[8] often with several other toucans. This can be very cramped, so the birds tuck their tails and beaks under their bodies to keep their body temperature at a normal level while sleeping. Adding to the lack of space, the bottoms of the holes are often covered with pits from the fruit the toucans have eaten.[8]

Behaviour and ecology

Like many toucans, keel-billed toucans are very social birds, rarely seen alone. They fly in small flocks of approximately six to twelve individuals through lowland rainforests. Their flight is slow and undulating, consisting of rapid wing beats (six to ten), then a glide with the bird's beak extending forward and dipping downward as though pulling the rest of the bird.[8] Their feet are drawn up forward in flight. The flight distances are typically short.[8] They live together in groups, often sharing cramped living quarters of holes in trees. There is a family structure within the group. Birds often "duel" with each other using their bills, and throw fruit into each other's mouths. They 'play ball', one throwing a fruit in the air and a second seizing it.[8]

Breeding

The female keel-billed toucan will lay 1–4 white eggs in a natural or already-made tree cavity.[10] The male and female share in the caring of the eggs, both taking turns incubating.[8] The eggs hatch approximately 15–20 days after being laid. After hatching, the male and female again take turns feeding the chicks. When the chicks hatch, they have no feathers, and have their eyes closed for approximately 3 weeks. The chicks have adequately formed heel pads, which assist on the pit-covered bottom of the nest.[8] The chicks stay in their nest for approximately eight to nine weeks while their bills develop fully and they are ready to fledge from the nest.

Food and feeding

The diet of keel-billed toucans consists mostly of a wide range of fruit,[12] but may also include insects, eggs, nestlings and lizards. The bill, surprisingly dexterous, allows this toucan to utilize a large variety of fruit that might not otherwise be reached. When eating the fruit, it uses its bill to dissect the fruit, and then tosses its head back to swallow the fruit whole.

• 
  Keel-billed toucan in San Ramon, Costa Rica
• 
  At London Zoo
• 
  At Parque Municipal Summit, Panama
• 
  At Zoo Miami
• 
  Venezuela
• 
  Venezuela

Aviculture

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).[13]

Status

This species is threatened by habitat loss, which has been accelerating in recent years, and by hunting and trapping for the pet trade. The species is undergoing a moderately rapid population decline and is therefore evaluated as Near Threatened.[1]

They are threatened by hunting for their meat and beaks, and toucan populations are on a decreasing trend.

References

External links

• "Rainbow-billed Toucan media". Internet Bird Collection.
• Keel-billed toucan Stamps (7 countries) at bird-stamps.org
• Keel-billed toucan photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
• Bibliography of online ornithological articles which explore the natural history of the Rainbow or Keel-billed toucan, Ramphastos sulfuratus sulfuratus.
• Keel-billed toucan species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
• Interactive range map of Ramphastos sulfuratus at IUCN Red List maps
• Audio recordings of Keel-billed toucan on Xeno-canto.

На других языках

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- [en] Keel-billed toucan

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[es] Ramphastos sulfuratus

El tucán pico iris[2] o tucán piquiverde (Ramphastos sulfuratus), también conocido como tucán pico de canoa, es una especie de ave de la familia Ramphastidae. Es el ave nacional de Belice se reconocen varias subespecies.[3] Sus miembros son importantes agentes dispersores de semillas que ayudan a la regeneración de las selvas tropicales y de los hábitats en los que viven. De las tres especies de tucanes que se distribuyen en México, esta es la más grande, mide entre 50 y 59 cm y su peso aproximado es de 500 g. Su plumaje negro contrasta con el amarillo del cuello y pecho; su piel alrededor del ojo es verde, iris y tarsos azules, pico largo y aserrado color verde claro con una combinación de tonos azul y amarillo, destacando la punta de color anaranjado-rojizo. El macho tiene el pico más largo que la hembra. El ave es muy atractiva por su colorido y lo llamativo de su pico multicolor. Se alimenta de frutas principalmente. Viaja en bandadas de seis a 12 adultos demostrando una gran agilidad para desplazarse entre los árboles. Comúnmente se les puede observar jugando entre ellos con sus picos o lanzándose pequeñas frutas. La especie puebla las selvas entre el sur de México, Colombia y el oeste de Venezuela. Concretamente, en la República Mexicana se distribuye principalmente en la Huasteca Potosina, Istmo de Tehuantepec y la Península de Yucatán. Habita en bosques primarios, secundarios y zonas perturbadas, selvas mediana y altas perennifolias tropicales, riberas de ríos, lagos y lagunas de vegetación exuberante. También en "islas" o manchones relativamente perturbados de bosque húmedo secundario, arbustos altos y matorrales espesos de áreas húmedas, bosque mesófilo o de neblina, pastizales, sabanas, breñales y matorrales de crecimiento secundario en sitios abiertos, tanto en áreas húmedas como secas. Habita climas templados y cálido húmedos a lo largo de una franja altitudinal que va desde el nivel del mar hasta los 1,230 m. A pesar de que se registran en varias reservas o áreas naturales protegidas, los tucanes no cuentan con programa de manejo, por lo que se considera inadecuada su protección en algunas áreas. El decreto oficial de 1986 que prohíbe su captura y venta, ataca el comercio ilegal y tráfico al cual eran sometidas. Algunos zoológicos del país reproducen a la especie en cautiverio. Es importante llevar a cabo estudios sobre la especie en las diferentes reservas para diseñar estrategias de conservación. Actualmente la especie se encuentra listada en la NOM059-SEMARNAT-2010 de especies en riesgo bajo la categoría de Amenazada. Uno de los factores de riesgo más importantes para el equilibrio de sus poblaciones es la pérdida y fragmentación del hábitat (sobreexplotación forestal, transformación del uso de suelo por actividades agrícolas y ganaderas, asentamientos humanos y apertura de caminos). Asimismo, la cacería furtiva y el comercio y tráfico ilegal. También está incluida en el listado de Especies en Preocupación Menor de la UICN.[4]

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[fr] Toucan à carène

Ramphastos sulfuratus

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[it] Ramphastos sulfuratus

Il tucano carenato (Ramphastos sulfuratus Lesson, 1830) è un uccello della famiglia Ramphastidae, diffuso in America centrale e Sud America.[2]

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[ru] Радужный тукан

Радужный тукан[1] (лат. Ramphastos sulfuratus) — вид туканов из рода Ramphastos.

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