Cuvier's Toucan - Ramphastos cuvieri

Cuvier's Toucan Ramphastos cuvieri
(aka Red-billed Toucan or White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus cuvieri)

Brazilian name: tucano-grande-de-papo-branco

Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Cuvier's Toucan is distributed in south-west Venezuela, south-east Colombia, and western Amazonian Brazil to eastern Peru, Ecuador and northern Bolivia. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

Many authorities lump this species with Red-billed Toucan R. tucanus but the HBW and Birdlife International Checklist treat it as a separate species. It has to be noted however that there are extensive zones of hybridisation between the two species. The most notable difference is colour of the bill which is black compared to deep red with a black base.

It is found in rainforest, especially near water, in clearings and occasionally in city trees. It forages in the canopy where it feeds on fruit, insects, small reptiles and birds eggs.

Like all toucans it is very vocal and it is a "yelper" rather than a "croaker"

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