The Choco toucan is a near-passerine bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.
Region
Chocó biogeographic region
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid lowland and foothill rainforests on the Pacific slope of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It favors mature evergreen forest but also uses tall secondary growth, forest edges, and river corridors. Most activity is in the mid to upper canopy where fruiting trees are abundant. It tolerates some habitat disturbance but declines where forest is heavily fragmented.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Choco toucan is a large, fruit-loving toucan endemic to the humid forests of the Chocó biogeographic region in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Its booming, frog-like calls carry far through the canopy. Like other toucans, it nests in tree cavities and plays an important role in seed dispersal for many rainforest plants.
In northwestern Ecuador showing white uppertail coverts
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with undulating glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small groups moving through the canopy between fruiting trees. Nests in natural cavities or old woodpecker holes; both sexes share incubation and chick-rearing. Pairs maintain loose territories and may engage in mutual calling and bill-fencing displays.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, resonant yelps and croaking notes, often given in repeated series that carry over long distances. Also produces rattling clacks and harsh calls during social interactions.
Plumage
Mostly black body with a bright yellow throat and upper breast, separated below by a narrow reddish band; vent often tinged reddish. The bill is long and laterally compressed, mostly dark with paler tones near the base. Bare facial skin around the eye is bluish.
Diet
Primarily eats a wide variety of fleshy fruits and berries, swallowing them whole and later dispersing seeds. Supplements its diet with insects, small lizards, and occasionally eggs or nestlings when available. Forages methodically among fruiting crowns, sometimes hawking flying insects from perches.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly in the mid to upper canopy of humid forest, along edges, and in tall secondary growth. Frequently visits isolated fruiting trees in clearings and along rivers.
