Selenidera spectabilis
The Yellow-eared Toucanet (Selenidera spectabilis) is a vibrant and elusive member of the toucan family (Ramphastidae), captivating birders with its striking coloration and forest-dwelling habits. Averaging 36-38 cm (14-15 inches) in length, including its prominent bill, this toucanet exhibits clear sexual dimorphism: males boast a glossy black head, throat, and chest, while females display a rich chestnut-brown in these areas. Both sexes share a distinctive bright yellow patch behind the eye...
Found in subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, including forest edges and clearings with scattered trees, typically between 300 and 1600 meters elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of tropical fruits, but also supplementing their diet with insects, spiders, small vertebrates, and bird eggs.
Yellow-eared Toucanets are generally observed singly or in pairs, though small family groups may forage together. They are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging in the forest canopy and subcanopy, often roosting in tree cavities at night. Foraging involves gleaning fruits and insects fr...
The Yellow-eared Toucanet is a resident species primarily found in Central America and northwestern South America. Its range extends from extreme eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and south into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Within this distribution, it is ...
Least Concern
- The Yellow-eared Toucanet's 'ear' patches are actually feathers, not a true ear, providing a key identification mark. - Its large, colorful bill, while appearing cumbersome, is incredibly lightweight and plays a crucial role in foraging for fruit and regulating body temperature. - Unlike many b...