Selenidera gouldii
Gould's Toucanet (Selenidera gouldii) is a striking, medium-sized toucanet endemic to the Amazon basin, known for its vivid plumage and distinctive sexual dimorphism. Males sport a glossy black head, throat, and breast, contrasting sharply with a bright yellow collar and prominent orange-yellow ear-tufts. Females are equally striking, but replace the male's black with a rich chestnut on the head and breast. Both sexes display an olive-green back and flanks, a crimson rump, and a remarkably pa...
This species primarily inhabits humid tropical and subtropical lowland forests, typically found in terra firme (non-flooded) and gallery forests up to about 1,000 meters elevation.
Their diet consists predominantly of fruits, especially berries and small drupes, supplemented by insects, spiders, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or eggs, acquired by gleaning from foliage and branches.
Gould's Toucanets are diurnal birds, typically observed singly, in pairs, or small family groups, often foraging quietly in the middle to upper canopy. They move through the foliage with agile hops, using their long bills to pluck fruits, berries, and occasionally insects from branches. While spe...
Gould's Toucanet is native to the Amazon Basin of South America, primarily found in central and eastern Brazil, extending into northeastern Bolivia and southeastern Peru. Its distribution encompasses much of the Brazilian states of Pará, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, and Rondônia. There are t...
Least Concern
- Gould's Toucanet was named in honor of the renowned English ornithologist and bird artist, John Gould. - Despite its large appearance, the toucanet's bill is surprisingly lightweight, composed of spongy bone and keratin, making it highly functional for reaching fruit. - It exhibits strong sexua...