Ramphastos brevis
The Choco Toucan (Ramphastos brevis) is a striking medium-sized toucan, instantly recognizable by its distinct bi-colored bill and vibrant plumage, making it a prized sighting for birders in its restricted range. Measuring approximately 46-49 cm (18-19 in) in length and weighing 320-400 grams, it features a prominent bill of about 10 cm, which is yellowish-green on the upper mandible and black on the lower, often with a narrow white line at the base and a black tip. Its body is predominantly ...
Found primarily in humid lowland and foothill tropical forests, including mature secondary growth and forest edges, typically from sea level up to 1,500-1,800 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of various tropical fruits, particularly figs and palm fruits, supplemented by insects, small lizards, bird eggs, and nestlings. They forage primarily by plucking items from branches with their large bill.
Choco Toucans are diurnal birds, active from dawn to dusk, often roosting communally in tree hollows or dense foliage overnight. They are primarily arboreal, foraging for fruit by plucking it with their long bills, occasionally swooping down for fallen fruit or small prey. While not strictly terr...
The Choco Toucan is a resident species, with its distribution restricted to the humid Chocó biogeographic region of northwestern South America. Its breeding range encompasses the Pacific slope of extreme eastern Panama (primarily within the Darién Province), extending south through western Colomb...
Least Concern
- The Choco Toucan's species name 'brevis' is Latin for 'short,' referring to its bill being relatively shorter than many other toucans in its genus, a key identifier among Ramphastos species. - Its distinctive frog-like croaks are a primary way to identify this species audibly, distinguishing it...