Ramphastids in the Rain Forest

by Jerry Jennings Woodland Hills, California

Toucans are one of the most Widely clutch twice and the offspring from the dispersed families of neotropical , first nest have been observed helping whose range extends from central the parents rear the second nest. This Mexico to northern Argentina, helping behavior is unique among Ram­ Paraguay, and Bolivia and from the phastids, though not in the world. Bird Taxidermy Available eastern slope of the Andes to the There are approximately forty-three Atlantic coast. Only in Central America of Ramphastids grouped into BUY • SELL • TRADE BIRDS· BIRDSUPPLIES and and Colombia do they occur on the six genera. The large black of Pacific coast. the are, perhaps, the EQUIPMENT· SEED. FEED Toucans are a relatively gregarious most familiar, and the focus of the Halfmoons • Cockatiels • Lovebirds group of birds which inhabit the forest popular imagination when thinking of Parakeets • Parrots canopy whether at sea level or the neotropical birds. Such species as the White headed nuns higher Andean elevations (10,000 feet). toco and the keelbill inspire the stuffof Green singers • Cordon bleus Golden breasted Waxbills They occur in small flocks of up to forty television commercials and the ariel has and many other types of individuals, which move from tree to been a featured star of the National finches and hook bills tree in short, undulating flights. Flying Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick 18247 East Valley Blvd. single file, the entire group completely magazine. (at Yorbita Rd.) reassembles before embarking for the The smaller toucanets and , La Puente, CA 91744 next tree. Flocks tend to stay in a local however, are virtually unknown to the area and may be observed on successive general public and even somewhat ,------. days. Only during the breeding season obscure to the aviculturist, some of I'~ do these flocks break up into individual whom are initially incredulous that they ~ca'l-[d ~1t.~i. pairs, which establish nesting territories. are of the same family. Lesser known {)ak ': trees, toucans there satisfy all their The most distinguishing charac­ . Ohio 44139 requirements for food, nest sites and teristic of the is his large, flam­ 'J"-/ The place for security. Their diet consists primarily of boyantly colored bill. In no other group .l,,,, hand-fed, tame a variety of fruits, augmented by some of birds, anywhere in the world, can ~.~~ and talking baby live prey including insects, spiders, one find such a cornucopia ofcolors ­ small birds, rodents and reptiles. When such that each species may be readily MACAWS, COCKATOOS, one bird makes a catch, others may try identified by its beak alone. This gaudy AMAZON PARROTS to snatch the prize away, or at least a variety bespeaks one theory concerning BUY DIRECT piece ofit. the purpose of their oversized man­ • Imported birds from our Miami quarantine Toucans nest in tree cavities, usually dibles: species recognition and sexual station. the former homes of woodpeckers, display. • Domestic bred from our aviaries. which the toucans frequently renovate. Although locally abundant in the • Laparascoped sexed birds ready for Rarely do they do much excavation of forests of the neotropics, toucans may breeding. noteworthy proportions on their own. be difficult to observe, especially where • Wrought iron cages, exclusively designed A number of oval, white eggs are laid, they are pursued by Indians for the and manufactured for us. up to four at a time. Incubation takes dinner table or by trappers for the • Distributors for Abba complete seed diets, approximately sixteen days and young trade. In national parks, on the and miscellaneous supplies. are fledged in six to seven weeks. With other hand, where they are protected, the exception ofthe genus Pteroglossus toucans can become very tolerant of Open 9 to 5, 7 days a week. (the aracaris), toucans roost on limbs at human activity. At Iguazu Falls ational Retail and Wholesale. night. The aracaris roost in cavities, Park in northern Argentina, toco with as many as half a dozen birds piled toucans are so familiar with tourists, (216) 439·5106 in on top ofeach other. they may be approached to within a few Most species of rear yards. Red breasted toucans, though less Dave and Rose D'isidoro Ramphastids only one clutch ofyoung per year in the forest. The aracaris, however, frequently Continued on page 28

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afa WATCH BIRD 27 ro ·c tolerant may be approached to within ~ ro one hundred feet. Toucanets and o aracaris generally are more easily dis­ ~ C turbed and require greater patience to o:::J o observe. c An ~ As the fore ts oftropical America are c eu ownedbyjerryjennings. o cleared for agriculture and other com­ as CJ) mercial purposes, toucan and their -0o o fellow travelers will be squeezed into Q) A red-billed toucan ever smaller areas. A the trees are CJ)o Q) owned by the author. c:> -0c eu c o CJ) Q. E o .£ l­ Q) ro o E CJ)o (5 .£ 0....

Three tocos in a tree in Argentina.

Channelbill toucan in collection ofauthor. 28 August/ eptember 1986 felled fewer ne t ites will be available. That is fewer ofthe right kind of trees, for toucans ne t in the abandoned cavities excavated by woodpeckers, who do their construction in dead or dying tree . There are few dead or dying trees in any given acre of forest. Those that exist u ually rot and collapse within a few years creating a continuous housing shortage, especially in a forest being harve ted. From the beginnings of the Maya, Incan, and Aztec civilizations to the arrival ofthe panish conquistadors and be ond to the present day men ofevery race, culture and historical period have admired toucan considering them the personification ofneotropical avifauna. Such a noble tradition is warranted indeed! •

Many bandedaracaris. Iguazu Falls ationalPark in northern Argentina) site of largest waterfall in the world J and "home ' to manyspecies of toucans.

Q) Q) 0> 0> "0 "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Q) Q) 0> 0> <5 0 Q) Q) ~ ~ "0 "0 C C co co c c 0 0 Cf) Cf) 0. 0. E E 0 0 £ £ ~ ~ ci ci roQ) roQ) 0 0 >- >- .Q .Q 0 0 0 0 £ £ CL CL

A green athome injennings J aviaries.

Black mandibled toucan in collection ofauthor. afa WATeRBIRD 29