The breedingpairofredbillsatthe nestlog. The author with the surviving chick at 53 days. a possiblefirst breeding a/the red billed toucan by Jerry Jennings Woodland Hills, California The red billed toucan (Ramphastos imilar, three note yelping call. Sexes tucanus), known as the white-throated are identical, except for the male's toucan to taxonomists, is comprised of substantially longer beak and slightly two subspecies, Ramphastos tucanus larger body size. tucanus and Ramphastos tucanus The red bill is distributed throughout cuvieri. The two species are virtually lower Amazonia (eastern Brazil) and identical in feather pattern and colora- north into Guyana and eastern Vene- tion, varying only in the color of the zuela. The R. t. cuvieri replaces the red sides of their large bills. Further, R. t. bill in upper Amazonia (western Brazil) cuvieri also varies in size within its own and extends into southern Venezuela, range. and the eastern lowlands of Columbia, The red bill is one of the larger mem- Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Where these bers of its genus. It is black on the populations intergrade, there is a high crown, nape, back, wings, tail and degree of hybridization and a corre- abdomen. Its throat and upper breast spondingly wide variation in bill color. are white, the latterborderedat the bot- Red bills are conspicuous members of tom with a narrow red band. The rump the neotropical forest avifauna, fre- quently perching in the treetops where The adult male red billed toucan. is yellow, the vent red. The beak is light yellow on the culmen; the basal band of they utter their loud calls, which may the bill is yellowabove, bluebelow. The carry up to a quarter mile. Their diets sides of the bill are red in tucanus and consist of a variety of locally and sea- blackincuvieri. Both subspecies sharea sonally available fruits and berries, as 32 well as someanimal matter includingin- also fed during the last few days the sects, small rodents, birds and the young were still in the ne t. young thereof. Red bills, as well as all After the ingle chick was removed other toucans, nest in the abandoned for handfeeding, it wa fed a more tree cavities of woodpeckers, which limited diet of diced papaya, grapes, from original paintings by one of these toucans occasionally have to banana, and soaked PurinaKitten Chow the top bird artists of our time - enlarge to suit their needs. Although or Meow Mix (both 35% protein). Daily little is known of the life history of the weight maurements were taken both Eric ee red bill, other species have been ob- to monitor the bird' development a served evicting woodpecker occupants well as to warn of any impending from their nests inorderto take over the medical complications. (Although cavity. handfeeding toucans i quite simple In captivity, red bill have only mechanically, the younger the chick recently become readily available. The are when taken from the nest, the fir t birds began appearing on importer greater is their susceptibility to yea t lists in 1982. In 1983 a number of and/or bacteria infection , which are dealers offered them for sale, with a easily eliminated if caught in time.) All subsequent decline in availability in weights are taken in the morning prior 1984, though some are certainly till to the day's fir t feeding. On the morn- around. ing following the chick' removal from In the Fall of 1982, I was fortunate in the nest it weighed 328 grams (33 day) being able to acquire a true pair and an and 406 grams on July 23rd (53 days). extra hen. The pair was introduced into (The latter weight i the expected a large, planted enclosure measuring fledgling weight, since the members of 16'x36'x9'. The planting consisted of the genus Ramphastos generally leave black walnut, oleander (toucans do not the nest at 49-55 days, and are weaned chew and thus can't eat this poisonous shortly thereafter.) plant), and variou as orted weeds. A At 60 day of age, the young red bill Scarlet Macaw log, taken from a dead palm tree, was similar in appearance to an adult, measures three feet in length and seven- except the beak was strawto faint red in teen inches in outside diameter. The color, theeyeskinwas pale blue, and the interior was hollowed out with a chain- bird was only about 2/3 adult size. It is saw to a depth of twenty inches, then an apparent female. capped withplywood. An entrance was During the breeding cycle, the red made in the side, three inches from the bills hadthe company ofa pairofHor e- top and measuring 3"x4". field' kalij pheasant , with whom they The red bills examined the nest log appeared fairly compatible. However, off and on, but made no efforts to nest the pheasant were removed from the until early May 1984. The birds were flight approximately t 0 eeks after first noted in the log on a continuou the young hatched, because the male basis on May 14th. Both parents took pheasant had the nasty habit of attack- part in the incubationon a rotating basis ing the feet of anyone entering the with the hen usually sitting at night. On flight. (Generally, though, pheasants May 31, 1984 the first audible sounds of tend to inhibit toucan reproductiondue nestlings could be heard. The nest, to the former's nocturnal perching near however, was not examined until three or on top of the nest log.) weeks later out of concern the parents Contrary to expectation , the red might expel the young ter , as toucans bills did not recycle once the chick had will often do. Even then the nest itself been removed frm the ne t. They did, was not moved. sing a mall mirror however, frequent the ne t for several and fla hlight, the nest was briefly weeks thereafter on exploratory vi its checked, wherein two hi k wer and the hen slept in the nest the fir t observed. This procedure was repeated night after the surviving chick had been Palm Cockatoos every other day thereafter, until July pulled. All 8" x 10" prints, 2nd, when only one chick was found in One of the largest and most colorful individually signed by the artist the nest. This bird was immediately ofthe toucans, the redbill will needa lot and shipped post paid, removed for handrearing and wa of work before it become e tablished ready to frame. eating on its own byJuly 31st. in captivity. Acquiring true pairs is not Price: $ 18.00 each During the period the young were as ea y with red bill as with orne $30.00 for two under the care of their parents, the others, i.e. Toco ,since there appear to Write for free catalog. adult were fed a diet consisting of be a severe shortage of male .A men- diced papaya, banana, apple, whole tioned above, I originally acquired a Carol-rae Wilson grape, cut corn, peas, diced carrots, pair and a hen in 1982. It took nearly a 7735 Devonwood Drive Purina Hi-Pro Dog Kibble, Mynah year and a half to locate a econd male, Westchester, Ohio 45069 Pellet , Turkey Lay Pellet (high pro- after having seen a large number of Distributors inquiries welcome. tein) and mealworms. Crickets were birds.• 33.