Toucans (Family Rhamphastidae) - A beak for (almost) all purposes

Everyone, who has ever seen a Toucan, surely was surprised by its huge beak. It is assumed that there are 37 Toucan species, all of them with more or less oversized beaks. Scientifically the Toucan family is called Rhamphastidae. It's striking that the relation between the size of the Toucan's beak and the size of its body increases with the size of the species. Small Toucan species have rather "normal" beaks, whereas the beaks of large species like the Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) are huge, even if the size of the body is taken into consideration. The Keel-billed toucans (Ramphastos sulfuratus), shown on the photo, are among the medium sized species. The beak of this Toucan is very special for another reason; it is said to be the most colourful beak of all birds. The plummage of most Toucan species is very conspicuous too. Often black is dominant, but it's interrupted by colourful contrasting areas. Keel-billed toucans have a bright yellow chest for instance. The area around the eyes is without plummage and also very colourful in most species. Paradoxically the colourful plummage and the even more colourful beak are a perfect camouflage in the treetops, since from a distance they make Toucans rather look like fruits than birds.

The Toucans' surprisingly lightweight beak can be used for many purposes. It's especially useful when foraging. With their beaks Toucans are able to reach fruits, growing on the more distant parts of the twigs. Fruits dominate their diet, but Toucans are not pure vegetarians; they also hunt on insects and small reptiles - another field of activity for the large beak. It also plays an important part concerning intraspecific communication, especially during courtship. Not least thanks to their beak Toucans are well-fortified birds, which are able to defend their young against predators for instance. But there is one thing, they can't use the large beak for: It's the construction of tree holes. Toucans need such holes for nesting and raising their young. Although they are closely related to woodpeckers, they are not able to construct such holes. Toucans are depending on natural tree holes or holes constructed by other animals. The female lays two to four eggs, which are incubated by both parents. The young Toucans are hatching after an incubation period of a little more than two weeks. They are growing very slowly. When they have become fully-fledged, they'll still come back to their breeding hole for quite a while. This way the parents and their young stay together for several months, until the family group breaks off finally.

Toucans inhabit rainforests and lowlands in Central America and the tropical South America. To the south their distribution range extends to Northern Argentina. They are at home in the treetops and live solitary or in small groups. The Toucans' legs and feet are quite strong and made for moving on and between the branches. With great skill they hop along the twigs. But on the other hand Toucans are not able to fly very well. Their body is too heavy and ungainly to allow long and elegant flights.

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