Bocas Species Database

Habitat: This Toucan species can be commonly found in second-growth woodland and forest borders in the lowlands and lower foothills. It is also found in residential areas with large trees.   Distribution: This species has been reported from eastern Mexico to northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.   Natural History Notes: The Keel-billed Toucan is usually observed in groups, perched high in trees. It is easier to observe it very early in the morning and late in the afternoon. When it flies, it seems a little clumsy and heavy loaded because of the large size of its bill. Its call is well known and is composed of repeated grunting or croaking sounds like "kre-ék, kre-ék, kre-ék". The diet of Keel-billed Toucan consists mostly of a wide range of fruits, but may also include bird eggs, insects, lizards, and tree frogs. Conservation status according to IUCN 2008 Red list: Least Concern (LC). It is a resident species.   Characteristics: This species has a total length of 48.8 cm (measured from tip of bill to end of tail) and with a bill length of up to 14 cm. This well known toucan is characterized by a multicolored bill, mostly yellow-green with a red tip and a large orange stripe on the side of the upper mandible and a blue area on the lower mandible. We can also distinguish a bright green area of bare skin around the eye. The plumage of this bird is mostly black with the throat and chest bright yellow colored, and bordered by a red line. The facial area is also yellow. The rump is white and the under tail-coverts is red.