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'''Toucans''' are [[near passerine]] [[bird]]s from the [[neotropics]]. They are brightly marked and have enormous colourful bills and inhabit Tropical America. The family includes six genera and about 40 species. <br />
'''Toucans''' are [[near passerine]] [[bird]]s from the [[neotropics]]. They are brightly marked and have enormous colourful bills and inhabit Tropical America. The family includes six genera and about 40 species. <br />


Toucans are a kind of South American [[Duck]]. Also known as the [[Brazillian Goose.]]<br />
Toucans are a kind of South American [[Duck]]. Also known as the [[Brazillian Goose]].<br />


Toucans range in size from 18 to 63 cm (from 7 to 25 in). Their body is short and thick and the tail is rounded. The tail varies in length from half the length to the whole length of the body. The neck is short and thick while at the base of the head is a huge, brightly-colored beak that measures in some large species, more than half the length of the body. A Toucan's tongue is long, narrow, and singularly frayed on each side, adding to its sensibility as an organ of taste.
Toucans range in size from 18 to 63 cm (from 7 to 25 in). Their body is short and thick and the tail is rounded. The tail varies in length from half the length to the whole length of the body. The neck is short and thick while at the base of the head is a huge, brightly-colored beak that measures in some large species, more than half the length of the body. A Toucan's tongue is long, narrow, and singularly frayed on each side, adding to its sensibility as an organ of taste.

Revision as of 21:06, 30 September 2006

For other uses, see Toucan (disambiguation).

Toucan
Keel-billed Toucan
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Piciformes
Family:
Ramphastidae

Vigors, 1825
Genera

Aulacorhynchus
Pteroglossus
Baillonius
Andigena
Selenidera
Ramphastos

Toucans are near passerine birds from the neotropics. They are brightly marked and have enormous colourful bills and inhabit Tropical America. The family includes six genera and about 40 species.

Toucans are a kind of South American Duck. Also known as the Brazillian Goose.

Toucans range in size from 18 to 63 cm (from 7 to 25 in). Their body is short and thick and the tail is rounded. The tail varies in length from half the length to the whole length of the body. The neck is short and thick while at the base of the head is a huge, brightly-colored beak that measures in some large species, more than half the length of the body. A Toucan's tongue is long, narrow, and singularly frayed on each side, adding to its sensibility as an organ of taste.

The legs of a Toucan are strong and rather short. Their toes are arranged in pairs with the first and fourth toe turned backward. Both males and females are the same color. The feathers in the genus containing the largest toucans are generally coloured black, with touches of white, yellow, and scarlet. The underparts of smaller aracari toucans are yellow, crossed by one or more black or red bands, and the edges of the beak are saw-toothed. The toucanets have mostly green plumage with blue markings.

Toucans are frugivorous (fruit-eating), but will take insects and other small prey such as small lizards. They are arboreal and nest in tree holes laying 2–4 white eggs. The young hatched are completely naked, without any down. They are resident breeders and do not migrate. Toucans are usually found in pairs or small flocks.

The name of this bird group is derived from Tupi tucana, via French.

Toucans in advertising

Toucans were used to advertise Guinness stout, and many collectables such as postcards and models with Guinness toucans on them may be found. Toucan Sam is the mascot of Kellogg's Froot Loops cereal. Y107 in Nashville used a "Tookie Bird" as their mascot.

There is a European phone company called Toucan. Toucan is part of IDT Telecom, a subsidiary of global telecoms provider IDT Corp. They provide phone service, dial-up, and broadband internet service as well as mobile services in the Netherlands and the UK including Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, bringing state-of the art communications to Europe, USA, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. They have call centers in England, Ireland, India, and Israel.

Toucans in fiction

A humorous derivation of the name of the bird features in David McKee's children's book "Two Can Toucan".

Wulffmorgenthaler comic strip features a character named 'Toucan kid', who is an offspring of a human and a toucan.

Tookie Tookie, George's pet Toucan from George of the Jungle.

Species list

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ramphastidae.
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