Keel Billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

When people think of toucans, the Keel Bill is most likely the type they imagine, due to Toucan Sam of Kellogg’s Fruit Loops fame. They are also known as Sulfur Breasted and Rainbow Toucans. Their large bills are actually bone covered in a hard protein, called keratin. Keel Bills can be found from Southern Mexico to Northern South America. Belize boasts the Keel Billed Toucan as their national bird.

Channel Billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

The Channel Billed Toucan has a range that extends from Trinidad to Bolivia. Recently several toucan species considered to be separate have been re-classified as subspecies of the Channel Billed. These include the Yellow ridged Toucan, Citron-throated Toucan, and the Ariel Toucan.

Ariel Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus ariel

There has been some debate as to classifing the Ariel Toucan as a subspecies of Channel Billed Toucan is correct. . There is much more to classifing species than their appearance, however channel billed and ariel toucans have a definate difference in appearance.

Chestnut Mandibled Toucan

Ramphastos swainsonii

Also known as Swainson’s Toucan in tribute to the English artist and ornithologist William Swainson. This species is related to the Black Mandibled Toucan and has a range froum Honduras to Peru.

Red Breasted Toucan

Ramphastos dicolours

This species not only is one of the smallest Ramphastos but it has a range that goes further south than other toucans, extending from southern Brazil into North-eastern Argentina. They are also known a Green Billed Toucans.

White throated Toucan

Ramphastos Tucanus

Also known as the Red Billed Toucan

Ramphastos Tucanus

White throated toucans have a range the covers nearly all of The Amazon Region of South America. Originally White Throated Toucans were considered to be either Red Billed Toucans or Cuvier’s Toucan Ramphastos Cuvieri. Since these two species interbreed they were given subspecies status and they became known under the common name White Throated Toucan. The Ramphastos Cuvieri subspecies at first glance may be confused with the Channel Billed Toucan, Ramphastos vitellinus , but Ramphastos Cuvier wins the size battle both in body and bill, while The Channel Billed Toucan has a culmen that is keeled more.

Guianan Toucanet

Selenidera culik

The range of this species is from Western Brazil, north to Venezuela and over to French Guiana and Suriname. They are a dichromatic species which means that sexes differ in color. They prefer feeding on fruit in pairs or alone.

Collard Aracari

Pteroglossus-torquatus

Aracaris are a smaller type of toucan. Collard Aracaris have a range from Souther Mexico into Venezuela. Aracaris are the most social of toucans that go about in small flocks and roost in groups.

Toucans, Toucanets, and Aracaris are beautiful birds that after seeing them you may want to keep as pets. Toucans species do make great companion animals provided they are hand raised and given the proper care and nutrition as they can become iron deficient. Their imposing bills are safer than that of many parrot species. A toucan can not bite your finger off like a Macaw or Cockatoo. Most of the species I have included in this link are available from breeders in various parts of the world. It is better to purchase any pet bird directly from a reputable breeder instead of getting birds that were captured in the wild. The only reason for getting toucans or any birds from the wild should be to increase the gene pool of captive breeding programs and done by experts in that field, be they professional or hobbyists.

Photos from Wikimedia