Channel-billed toucan

Last updated

Channel-billed toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus -Matsue Vogel Park-8a-4c.jpg
R. v. vitellinus
at Matsue Vogel Park, Japan
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Ramphastos
Species:
R. vitellinus
Binomial name
Ramphastos vitellinus
Subspecies

See text

The channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) is a near-passerine bird in the family Ramphastidae found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized: [3]

ImageSubspeciesDistribution
Toucan2007.jpg Yellow-ridged toucan (R. v. culminatus) - (Gould, 1833): Originally described as a separate species.Upper Amazonia from western Venezuela to northern Bolivia
Ramphastos vitellinus -Kobe Kachoen-8a.jpg R. v. vitellinus - Lichtenstein, 1823Venezuela, the Guianas, northern Brazil and Trinidad
Tucano de bico preto.jpg Ariel toucan (R. v. ariel) - Vigors, 1826: Originally described as a separate species.Central and eastern Brazil south of the Amazon River

These subspecies were previously considered separate species, but all three, along with the citron-throated toucan, will interbreed freely wherever they meet. However, the subspecies R. v. ariel is closer to R. v. culminatus than to the nominate, and are by some already considered close to distinct species status. As R. v. ariel was described before R. v. culminatus, if separated they would become Ramphastos ariel ariel and R. a. culminatus. There also exists an isolated population in eastern Brazil. It looks very similar to, and has traditionally been considered part of, R. v. ariel, but molecular analysis suggests that it has been isolated for a long time and is a yet-undescribed separate subspecies or possibly even species (Weckstein, 2005).

Description

R. v. vitellinus in captivity Channel-billed toucan t t.jpg
R. v. vitellinus in captivity

Like other toucans, the channel-billed is brightly marked and has a huge bill. It is typically 48 cm (19 in) long with a 9–14 cm (3½-5½ in) bill. It weighs 300–430 g (11–15 oz) [4]

Wherever the distributions of the subspecies meet, individuals with features that are intermediate compared to above described races are common due to hybridization. Some of these intermediate populations have sometimes been awarded subspecies status, e.g. theresae for the population in north-eastern Brazil and pintoi for populations in south-central Brazil (both are culminatus-ariel intergrades).

Habitat

Found in forest and woodland. Prefers humid regions, but locally extends into drier regions (esp. along rivers). Mainly in lowlands, but locally to an altitude of 1,700 m (5,600 ft).

Behavior

This species is an arboreal fruit-eater but will take insects, small reptiles, eggs and frogs. Typically consumed are lipid-rich fruits such as Virola and Euterpe palm fruits. Other fruits which the channel-billed toucan feeds upon are those borne by Cecropia , Ficus , Hevea , Nectandra , Oenocarpus , Pourouma and Pouteria . They will also consume papaya, mangoes, avocados and peppers if human intrusions into their habitat occur. [5] [6] The call is a croaking "cree-op cree-op cree-op".

The parents are both active in raising the young. The white eggs are laid in a high unlined tree cavity. There is a gestation period of 18 days, and the parents both incubate for 15 to 16 days. However, they can be impatient sitters, often leaving their eggs uncovered for hours at a time. Newborn toucans remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and their eyes open after about 3 weeks. They have short bills and specialized pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest. The feathers do not begin to expand until they are nearly 4 weeks old. They are helpless and unable to leave the nest for about 8 weeks, dependent upon both parents to feed them. After this, the young can care for themselves. They begin to leave the nest after 40 to 50 days, depending on size.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little hermit</span> Species of bird

The little hermit is a hummingbird that is a resident breeder in north-eastern Venezuela, northern Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad. This lowland species occurs in various semi-open wooded habitats, e.g. mangrove, secondary forest, plantations and scrub. In Trinidad it also occurs in rainforest. It is fairly common in most of its range, and therefore listed as Least Concern by BirdLife International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keel-billed toucan</span> Species of bird

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toco toucan</span> Species of bird

The toco toucan is a species of bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is the largest species of toucan and has a distinctive appearance, with a black body, a white throat, chest and uppertail-coverts, and red undertail-coverts. Its most conspicuous feature is its massive beak, which is yellow-orange with a black base and large spot on the tip. It is endemic to South America, where it has a wide distribution from the Guianas south to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and its range has recently been expanding southwards. Unlike other toucans, which inhabit continuous forests, toco toucans inhabit a variety of semi-open habitats at altitudes of up to 1,750 m. They are especially common in the Brazilian cerrado, gallery forests, and the wetlands of the Pantanal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-mandibled toucan</span> Subspecies of bird

The chestnut-mandibled toucan or Swainson's toucan is a subspecies of the yellow-throated toucan which breeds from eastern Honduras to northern Colombia to western Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald toucanet</span> Species of bird

The emerald toucanet is a species of near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found from Mexico to Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-throated toucanet</span> Species of bird

The blue-throated toucanet is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama and far northwestern Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated toucan</span> Species of bird

The white-throated toucan is a near-passerine bird in the family Ramphastidae found in South America throughout the Amazon Basin including the adjacent Tocantins and Araguaia River drainage. It prefers tropical humid forest, but also occurs in woodland and locally in riverine forest within cerrado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared aracari</span> Species of bird

The collared aracari or collared araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela.

<i>Ramphastos</i> Genus of birds

The Ramphastos genus, also known as toucans, is a genus of brightly colored, tropical birds that are found throughout Central and South America from Southern Mexico to the southern cone of the South American continent. Toucans are typically characterized by their large, colorful bills, which are used for a variety of functions such as thermoregulation, feeding, and social signaling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aracari</span> Genus of birds

An aracari or araçari is any of the medium-sized toucans that, together with the saffron toucanet, make up the genus Pteroglossus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-throated toucan</span> Species of bird

The yellow-throated toucan is a Near Threatened species of bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found from Honduras south into northern South America and beyond to Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choco toucan</span> Species of bird

The Choco toucan is a near-passerine bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-breasted toucan</span> Species of bird

The red-breasted toucan or green-billed toucan is a bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-necked aracari</span> Species of bird

The black-necked aracari or black-necked araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivory-billed aracari</span> Species of bird

The ivory-billed aracari or ivory-billed araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-mandibled aracari</span> Species of bird

The pale-mandibled aracari or pale-billed araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citron-throated toucan</span> Species of bird

The citron-throated toucan is a near-passerine bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated toucanet</span> Species of bird

The black-throated toucanet is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated toucanet</span> Species of bird

The white-throated toucanet or greyish-throated toucanet is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2022). "Ramphastos vitellinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T22726222A211186796. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi: 10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4 .
  4. "Ramphastidae (Toucans, Toucanets, & Aracaris)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-19. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  5. https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Ramphastos_vitellinus%20-%20Channel-billed%20Toucan.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. del Hoyo, Josep; Short, Lester L.; Collar, Nigel; de Juana, Eduardo; Kirwan, Guy M.; Sharpe, Christopher J. (2024). "Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.chbtou1.02species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN   2771-3105.