What animals live in tropical forests? Often the first that come to mind are monkeys, snakes, red-eyed tree frogs, and of course toucans. These beautiful birds scream “tropical”, with sleek black bodies, bright yellow chests, and large, distinctive rainbow bills. They are commonly known as Rainbow-billed Toucans, Keel-billed Toucans, or Sulfur-breasted Toucans, but they are all known by the same scientific name: Ramphastos sulfuratus.
Keel-billed Toucans have a mostly frugivorous (fruit only) diet, but they also add some animal protein from snakes, small lizards, insects – and even eggs and nestlings (stolen from other birds’ nests). However, they are probably best adapted to consume fruits and seeds. Their large and powerful bills allow them to open hard-shelled seeds, and they swallow fruits with large, stony pits whole and regurgitate the large seed later. These seeds are also used to form the lining of the nests where the toucan’s eggs are laid.
Toucans forage for food in groups of 10 to 20 individuals, sometimes mixing with other toucan species. As they search for food, they hop from branch to branch, often chasing each other around or throwing fruit from individual to individual. They jump among the branches quite well, but they are not great flyers. Although their bills are light and hollow, their heavy wings make flying a tiring experience. The flight is slow and undulating with rapid wing beating followed by short glides, and they do not fly long distances.
Keel-billed Toucans are social birds that mate in monogamous pairs. Males court females through a variety of displays include head and tail jerking, singing, and sharing food. In Costa Rica, the breeding occurs from March to June, varying depending on the specific region. Toucans nest in natural cavities found in trees and nest for as long as 6 weeks before they are ready to lay their eggs. It is possible that this is due to the limited number of suitable nest locations, and they want to ensure a good nest. They clean out the cavity they have chosen and bring small green leaves to fill it almost every day. The leaves are taken out when they dry up, possibly as an insect repellent. The nest is also lined with a “cobblestone” of various seeds and pits.
After the females lay 1 to 4 eggs, the toucans stay in the nest during the incubation period and the 45 days the offspring spend between hatching and fledging. Keel-billed Toucans raise one brood and remain mated throughout the year. The next year, they often return to the same nest if it was successful. Thankfully, the Keel-billed Toucans is not a threatened or endangered species, so these young fledglings will not typically struggle to survive. Make sure to look out for the toucan’s bright coloring next time you visit the Children’s Eternal Rainforest!
By Monika Buczak. Monika is a student at Lehigh University and completed an internship with the Monteverde Conservation League and Children’s Eternal Rainforest in 2016. Edited by Lindsay Stallcup, MCL Executive Director. Top photo: Tom Newmark. Insert photo: Alexa Stickel.