Pteroglossus bitorquatus
The Red-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus bitorquatus) is a striking member of the toucan family, Ramphastidae, renowned for its vibrant plumage and social behavior. Measuring approximately 30-33 cm (12-13 inches) in length and weighing between 130-160 grams, it features a glossy black head and upperparts, contrasted sharply by a distinctive bright red band on the nape of its neck. Its underparts are a vivid yellow, marked with a prominent, circular red patch on the belly, and the orbital skin aro...
This aracari primarily inhabits lowland humid forests, including terra firme, várzea, and gallery forests, often found along the edges of rivers and streams. It typically occurs at elevations below 500 meters, thriving in the dense canopy of the Amazon basin.
Primarily frugivorous, its diet consists largely of various fruits, which it gleans from the canopy. It also supplements its diet with insects, bird eggs, nestlings, and small vertebrates.
Red-necked Aracaris are highly social and diurnal birds, typically found in small, cohesive groups of 3-10 individuals, often representing family units that engage in cooperative breeding. They roost communally in old tree cavities, sometimes with multiple birds tightly packed together, even twis...
The Red-necked Aracari is a resident species distributed across the western and southern Amazon Basin in South America. Its primary range encompasses parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru, with no significant migration patterns. In Brazil, it is found in the states of Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Acre,...
Least Concern
- Red-necked Aracaris are one of the few toucan species known for cooperative breeding, where multiple adults assist in raising the young of a single pair. - They exhibit unique communal roosting behavior, with several birds piling into a single tree cavity, often twisting their long tails over t...