Toucan

What do you know about the colorful bird called the toucan? Did you know that this bird comes from South America? It is found living in small flocks in the rain forest. This bird does not fly very well. It manages to get around by hopping from tree to tree. The toucan lives in holes in the tree. It makes a croaking sound.

The toucan has brightly colored feathers that are very light. The toucan has four toes on its feet. Two of the toes face frontward, and two of the toes face backwards. This helps the toucan grasp the branch of the tree easily and hold on. A large bill protrudes from the front of the toucan. The bill is larger than the toucan’s head and is a third of the size of the toucan. The average toucan reaches 20 inches in length. The male toucan is a little bit larger than the female, but unlike many other birds, they have very similar coloration.

Living in the rain forest, the toucan eats mostly fruit but it also eats insects, bird eggs, and tree frogs. The fruit is eaten whole and then the toucan will regurgitate the seeds back up. This allows the seeds to continue growing in the rain forest.

The female toucan lays up to four eggs at a time. These eggs are laid in the holes of the trees where the toucans live. The male and female work together to incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.