Lettered Araçari (Pteroglossus inscriptus)

Identification & Behavior: ~34.5 cm (13.5 in). The male Lettered Araçari has black head and upperbreast. The Female has a chestnut head and upperbreast. The upperparts are greenish-gray. The underparts are yellow. The lower mandible is black. The upper mandible is yellow-orange with distinctive vertical letter-like scribbles along the cutting edge of the upper mandible. The lower rump and uppertail coverts are red. It is similar to the Chestnut-eared Aracari and Curl-crested Aracari but is distinguished by all yellow (no bands) underparts and yellow with lettering on the upper mandible.

Status: The Lettered Araçari is rare to uncommon in the forest canopy of Amazonia. It is known to range up to 900 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Arasari Letreado.

Sub-species: Lettered Araçari (Pteroglossus inscriptus humboldti), Wagler 1827.

Meaning of Name: Pteroglossus: Gr. pteros= feather, wing and glossa= tongue (feather-like tongue). inscriptus: L. inscribere= marked, to write, to score.

See more of the Family Ramphastidae