White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus)

Identification & Behavior: ~55.3 cm (22 in). The White-throated Toucan is black with white breast, throat, cheeks, and rump. The undertail coverts are red. The bill is black. The ridge of the upper mandible is yellow. It has blue bare skin around the eyes. It is nearly identical to Channel-billed Toucan, but it is slightly larger with longer bill. The safest way to tell these two species apart is by voice.

Status: The White-throated Toucan is common in the forest canopy of Amazonia. It is largely found below 800 m but is it known to locally range up to 1100 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tucán de Garganta Blanca.

Sub-species: White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus cuvieri), Wagler 1827.

Meaning of Name: Ramphastos: Gr. ramphestes= long sword, great sword. tucanus: tucán= Guarani Indian name for this bird, possibly means bony nose.

See more of the Family Ramphastidae