Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: White-billed Toucan
- Scientific name: White-billed aracari (Pteroglossus azara)
- Classification: Climbing birds
- Family and genus: Toucanidae, order Toucanidae, genus Toucan
Vital signs data
- Body length: No verification information available.
- Weight: No verification information available.
- Lifespan: No verification data available.
Significant features
Distribution and Habitat
The White-billed Tufted Toucan is found in South America (including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands).
The White-billed Toucan inhabits warm forests and edge areas, and prefers to perch on treetops.
Appearance
The White-billed Toucan somewhat resembles a hornbill in appearance. Its upper body is chestnut, wings are black, breast is bright red, rump is black, and head is typically black and chestnut. The underbelly is predominantly yellow with one or more black or red markings. It has a long, white beak with distinctly serrated edges, and its exterior is black or ivory, somewhat resembling teeth. Despite its large beak, the White-billed Toucan weighs less than 30 grams. Its beak structure is unique; it is not a dense solid but rather has a thin outer shell with a porous, spongy tissue filled with extremely fine fibers, allowing it to feel no pressure.
Detailed introduction
The white-billed toucan, scientifically known as *Pteroglossus azara*, Ivory-billed aracari, has two subspecies.
The White-billed Toucan is also one of the noisiest forest birds, capable of producing booming, horn-like, and piercing calls. Its nest is built high in tree cavities. When eating, it first pecks at its food with the tip of its beak, then tilts its neck back, tosses the food upwards, and then opens its large beak to accurately swallow it, avoiding the time spent swallowing through its long beak. The White-billed Toucan is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds, and insects.
The White-billed Toucan nests in tree cavities, sometimes raiding the nests of smaller birds and eating the eggs and chicks. It lays 2-4 eggs at a time. The smooth, white eggs are laid in an unlined burrow and incubate for about 16 days. The chicks hatch naked and take at least 3 weeks to open their eyes. They begin their lives about 45 days after hatching.
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