HORNBILLS & TOUNCANS

The magnificent, colorful beaks of toucans and hornbills might make you

think they’re related. Both bird types do keep their respective forest homes healthy and thriving. They have similar diets. But hornbills live in Africa and Asia. Toucans live in Central and South America. Their anatomical structures differ. And, although some hornbills beaks look similar to toucans’, most hornbills have a distinctive beak feature called a casque.

They both play the role of forest omnivore, feeding on fruits, insects and small creatures, including bird eggs, lizards and young mice. Their similar bills come in handy when foraging for food. Both groups of birds nest in cavities. These large bills also play a part in protecting eggs and nestlings from potential predators.

BLACK-NECKED ARACARI

The Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari) is one of the larger species of aracaris. It’s inhabits a variety of forest and woodland habitats.

CHANNEL-BILLED TOUCAN

The Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) is the most widespread species of “croaker.” It occurs northwestern Colombia east across most of northern and central South America.

GREEN ARACARI

The Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis) is one of the smallest members of the toucan family. It can be found from Eastern Venezuela to northern Brazil.

MINDANAO WRINKLED HORNBILL

The Mindanao Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus) It is endemic to humid forests of the Philippine islands, and unlike other hornbill species, both sexes have orange-red throat and peri-ocular skin.

RED-BILLED TOUCAN

The Red-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus) also known as the white throated toucan it has a large white throat that bonds with its largely black plumage.

TOCO TOUCAN

The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco), also known as the common toucan, giant toucan or simply toucan, is the largest and probably the best known species in the toucan family.