Pteroglossus frantzii
The Fiery-billed Aracari (*Pteroglossus frantzii*) is a vibrant, medium-sized member of the toucan family (Ramphastidae), captivating birders with its distinctive, brightly colored bill. Measuring approximately 41-45 cm (16-18 inches) in length and weighing around 200-250 grams, this species exhibits a striking appearance. Its most prominent feature is the large, canoe-shaped bill, which is predominantly fiery orange-red, contrasting sharply with a black culmen, tip, and base, making it insta...
This species thrives in humid lowland and foothill forests, favoring forest edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth. It is typically found at elevations from sea level up to 1,200 meters, occasionally ranging higher.
Their diet consists predominantly of fruits from various tree and vine species, supplemented opportunistically with large insects, bird eggs, and small vertebrates like lizards. They primarily forage by gleaning, using their long bills to pluck items from foliage and branches.
Fiery-billed Aracaris are highly social birds, typically observed in small family groups or flocks of 3-10 individuals foraging through the forest canopy. They exhibit communal roosting behavior, often huddling together in old woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities, sometimes with up to five o...
The Fiery-billed Aracari is endemic to the Pacific slope of Central America, primarily found in Costa Rica and extending into western Panama. In Costa Rica, its distribution spans from the central Pacific region (provinces of Puntarenas and San José) southwards through the Osa Peninsula and into ...
Least Concern
- The Fiery-billed Aracari is one of only two toucan species found exclusively on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and western Panama. - Unlike most birds, Aracaris (and toucans) are known for their communal roosting, with several individuals often huddling together inside a single tree cavity, so...