Facts about Toco Toucan

1. 07

   Fruit comprises nearly the entire diet of toco toucans, with these birds consuming over 90 percent berries and tropical fruits rather than insects or small animals.

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2. 06

   Toco toucans can regulate blood vessel dilation in their bills to dissipate heat, using this oversized appendage as a thermoregulatory organ in tropical climates.

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3. 05

   Toco toucans inhabit South American forests from southern Venezuela through central Brazil, with their range extending across the Amazon Basin and Atlantic rainforests at elevations up to 2,000 meters.

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4. 04

   Toco toucans mate for life and both parents incubate eggs in tree cavities for approximately 16 to 18 days before chicks hatch.

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5. 03

   Toco toucans produce loud, harsh calls that can reach over 130 decibels, making them among the noisiest bird species in their native South American rainforest habitats.

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6. 02

   A toco toucan's brilliant coloring comes from carotenoid pigments in its diet, with the bird's plumage deepening in hue as it consumes more fruit-rich foods throughout its life.

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7. 01

   The toco toucan's bill comprises approximately one-third of its total body length, weighing less than the bird's skull despite measuring up to 7.5 inches long.

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