The toucans
toucans
Toucans are very fertile birds and generally lay between 2 to 21 eggs in their nests. They make their nests in tree hollows and holes dug by other animals such as woodpeckers; the toucan's beak has very limited use as a digging tool.
When toucan eggs hatch, their young are born completely naked, that is, without feathers. Toucans are characterized by being breeding and resident birds; which means they do not migrate. Toucans are generally found in pairs or small groups. They sometimes fight each other, which scientists assume they do to establish dominance hierarchies.
Where does the toucan live? Habitat and distribution
These birds are from the Neotropics, which go from southern Mexico, Central America, South America and ends in northern Argentina. Most toucans live in tropical places; however, there are mountain species from the genus Andigena that can live in temperate climates such as the Andes and can be located up to the tree line.
The vast majority of toucans are from the forest kingdom, and are generally established in primary forests. They often go to secondary forests to forage, but primary forests are preferred because they provide them with large, old trees that have suitably large holes allowing them to reproduce.
Characteristics of toucans
Toucans are highly social and most species are found in groups of up to 20 or more birds most of the time. Pairs of toucans tend to isolate themselves from their group while they are in the breeding stage, and after that they return with their young once the season is over. In general. Larger groups often form during outbreak stages, migration, or even by sharing an exclusively large fruit tree.
These birds have a habit of spending time friendly fighting, chasing and calling, during the time that their body digests the fruits in their stomach. It is believed that these behaviors could be related to the objective of maintaining a couple bond or that dominant hierarchies are established in this way; The time it takes to digest in a toucan can last up to 75 minutes and during this time the bird cannot eat more food, so it takes this time to socialize with its species.
Toucans' legs are quite strong but they are also very short. The toes of their legs are distributed in pairs; the first and fourth fingers are turned backwards.
Toucans have a structural complex that may be unique to them, and this complex involves the reforming of several vertebrae found in their tail. The three back vertebrae are fused and attached to the spinal column by a ball and socket joint.
This allows toucans to move their tail forward and touch their head with it. It is in this position that they sleep, usually giving the impression of being simply a ball of feathers, as the tips of the tail protrude from their head.
Size and weight
Toucans come in different sizes from the “Pteroglossus inscriptus”, at 130 grams (4.6 ounces) to 29 centimeters (11.5 inches), the toco toucan “Ramphastos toco”, weighing 680 grams (1.5 pounds) and 63 centimeters (29 inches). The body of this bird is short (it can be compared to the size of a raven) and compact. The tail has a rounded shape and can vary in length, ranging from half the size of the body to the full length of its body. The toucan has a short neck but it is somewhat thick. Their wings are small, because they are forest birds and the distance they fly is short, and they are often about the same width as the beak of this bird's tail.
toucan colors
For the most part, toucans do not reveal any sexual dimorphism in terms of their coloration, however, the Selenidera genus is the most notable to appreciate based on this rule (that is where their common name comes from, which is "dichromatic toucans" ).
However, the bills of female toucans are generally shorter, deeper, and sometimes straighter, giving more of a “blocky” impression compared to male bills. The largest toucan genus has feathers that are generally purple, with small hints of white, yellow, scarlet, and black.
The underparts of the araçaris (smaller toucans) are yellow, crossed by one or more black or red bands. Toucans generally have green plumage with small blue markings.
Beak
The bill of the toucans is large and colorful; in the largest species it can measure more than half the size of its body, this can undoubtedly be the hallmark of toucans. Despite its size, the toucan's bill is very light, as it is made up of bony struts filled with spongy keratin tissue.
This slight and deep building is the most efficient in terms of strength/weight ratio, since it can be considered as a bridge truss compared to a beam; this would account for the depth of the beak in the absence of adaptive penalties associated with a deeper beak compared to a more compact beak that has the same length, but would have to be heavier.
The bill has forward serrations that resemble teeth, so naturalists believed that toucans hunted fish and that these birds were carnivorous; but today it has been proven that their main food is fruit.
Researchers who have studied these birds have discovered that the toucan's large bill is nothing more than a supremely efficient thermoregulation system, although its size can also be very advantageous in several ways.
Their beak helps them to improve their nutritional behavior (since by sitting down in a place they can reach all the fruits that are in that range, thus reducing the energy expenditure they may have), in addition, it has also been theorized that the bill can intimidate smaller birds and thus the toucan can plunder nests unmolested.
The beak helps this bird to penetrate inside tree holes in order to access provisions not available to other birds; In addition, it also allows it to plunder nests that are suspended and that are founded by smaller birds. However, as there is no sexual dimorphism in coloration, it is unlikely to be a sexual signal.
The toucan's tongue is long (ranging from 14-15 centimeters, or 6 inches), tight, gray in color, and characteristically frayed on each side, thus promoting sensitivity as an organ made for tasting.
sounds of toucans
They use vocalization to socialize with each other. They have calls to mate, to care for their young, and to warn others to stay away. They tend to be very noisy at times when they are awake and full of spirits.
Toco toucans, unlike other toucan species, are actually a very calm bird. For the most part, they enjoy their day in peace and quiet, only making noise when they are happy or frightened by an environment. This relatively silent characteristic of them is actually one of the main reasons why there are those who have them residing in captivity.
Unfortunately, toucans don't repeat sounds like parrots, they don't have that ability to form words, but they do communicate in other ways. Adult toucans make two different noises to express themselves.
The predominant communicative noise they make is their purr. It is almost impossible to imitate, especially they make this noise when they like something - a treat or an interesting thing or toy. They also use this noise as a warning.
For example, if they get scared, they purr as if to say, "You're getting ready to get hurt." Toucans also communicate through body language.
The other noise they make is croaking, this sound they make when they feel danger. This noise, so to speak, is a bit similar to that made by a pig.
What does the Toucan eat?
Toucans choose their food from a wide range of options. With regards to toucan feeding, toucans can be called frugivores or fruit eaters. However, they also expand their food offerings above other options.
Mainly, what toucans eat depends on what they are able to obtain. Toucans have a particular taste for most varieties of tropical fruits available in tropical rainforests. The favorite fruit of the toucans is the banana. Toucans prefer brightly colored fruit that is easy to spot.
The toco toucan, the largest of the toucan family and the most recognizable member of the family, and a keel-billed toucan.
The way a toucan consumes its food is very funny and impressive. For example, while eating a piece of fruit or a berry, it first plucks the fruit, throws it into the air, throws it, and catches it in its beak to swallow it whole. Once they swallow the fruits, they regurgitate the seeds.
This process is very useful for seed dispersal in the ecosystem in question. In addition to fruit, toucans delight in eating the eggs of smaller birds, small juicy insects, tree frogs, and reptiles, including lizards and snakes.
Toucans also raid the nests of other birds looking for chicks and eggs. This habit is helpful in meeting your protein needs. While feeding their young, toucans primarily prefer animal food.
Mating and reproduction of the toucan
The males use their colorful beak to get food and then bring it to the female they wish to mate with. The pair may throw food back and forth for a while before mating. They can spend several hours together before mating takes place.
Both parents will work to make a nest where the eggs will be deposited. They prepare their nest in the hole in the trees. There the female will lay 2 to 4 eggs. Toucans nest in tree cavities, and the presence of suitable trees is a habitat prerequisite for toucans. Most toucans do not excavate nest cavities, although some green toucans do.
They will both bring food for the youngsters. Their offspring will remain for many months after they are able to fly. This is because the young toucan doesn't have the account he needs to take care of himself yet. When it develops, they will be able to go on their own.
State of conservation
The Toco Toucan is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its extensive geographic range (BirdLife International 2010). The world population of the Toco Toucan is estimated to be in decline, but at a rate less than that which classifies a species as vulnerable according to the IUCN (decline of more than 30% in ten years or three generations).
Effects of human activity on populations
Toco Toucans are hunted by humans for their meat and the young birds are sometimes captured as pets. However, it is not known whether these practices significantly affect population size, although they are presumed to have a significant effect.
Curiosities
The toucan is a medium-sized bird native to the tropical forests of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Toucans are characteristic tropical birds of the Ramphastidae family and there are about 40 different species of toucans.
The tail of toucans has a round shape and its size varies, from half the length of its body to its full size. Its neck is short but with an adequate thickness. These birds do not require very large wings, since their natural habitat is the forest and with their short wings they can travel short distances.
Almost the entire body of the toucan is covered with black feathers (except for the throat, which is covered with white or yellow feathers). The color of the feathers provides camouflage. Bill color can be black, blue, brown, green, red, white, yellow, or a combination of colors.
Their large beak helps them stay cool in the hot environment they live in. This adaptation is one of the best heat regulation systems in the entire animal kingdom. The arteries in their beaks expand when the bird warms up; and release heat.
Despite its considerable size, the beak weighs less than we might think. Composed of the protein keratin (from which our hair and nails are made), the structure of the beak incorporates many air pockets that allow for a very low mass.
The toucan's large beak has several purposes, it is used to pick and peel fruit, to intimidate predators, and to attract mating partners.
When toucans sleep, they stick their beaks under their feathers to keep them warm. Toucans are diurnal and produce many different calls. They are noisy in the late afternoon when other birds become inactive.
Toucans are among the loudest forest birds. Their songs often resemble frogs croaking. Toucans combine their long vocal calls with the sounds of their beaks. Many species of toucans make barking, cawing, and growling sounds, and mountain toucans make donkey-like braying sounds.
Toucans are generally found in pairs or small groups. They spend their lives high up in the trees of the rainforest – they rarely make trips to the forest floor.
Life is not all fruit and game for toucans. Predators to watch out for include forest eagles, hawks, and owls; boas, jaguars, ocelots and weasels often invade toucan nests.
Its huge beak is useless for defending itself against predators and, in fact, this beak is the quality that attracts humans, to be trapped and sold in the pet trade. To protect themselves, they rely on their loud voices to scare off enemies and alert other toucans of danger.
Although most toucans live in groups, they are believed to be monogamous, at least during the breeding season and while raising their chicks. Reproduction occurs during the spring.
The female then lays 2-4 (rarely 5-1) shiny white eggs deep in a tree cavity; both the male and female incubate the eggs for 15 to 18 days, all depending on the species.
Toucans are born very small and do not reach their full size for many months. During this time both the mother and the father protect it from predators.
Fortunately, the toucan population remains large and stable and these birds are not on the endangered species list. Perhaps the best known tropical bird, the toucan is a playful and intelligent bird that has been used quite successfully by advertisers and business owners.
Toucans were some of the first birds observed by the European conquerors. Their flamboyant colors and raucous beaks made them entertain curiosities at the courts of Europe.
The rainbow-billed toucan or keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize. Although often compared to hawksbills, toucans are close relatives of the woodpecker.
Since the 1960s, Toucan Sam, a cartoon mascot, has been used as the face of Kellogg's Fruit Loops breakfast cereal. A little more will be said later about the famous toucans.
How long do toucans live?
A lifespan of 20 years is typically seen in wild toco toucans with a maximum recorded lifespan of 26 years. In captivity, this species of toucan often has a shorter lifespan of about 18 years.
The oldest captive toucan lived to be 26 years old.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario