Bird of the Week

Ramphastos sulfuratus or Keel-Billed Toucan is the subject of this week's bird-focus. This toucan can more often be heard than seen around the campus. The call of the toucan sounds a lot like the croak of a frog or toad. One interesting note on the Keel-Billed Toucan is that they are a highly social and playful bird. They move and live in family structures and like most families they fight and feed each other. The toucans have been seen throwing food into each other's beaks and using those long beaks to duel or play fight with each other. Living in the hollows of trees space can get tight, so these beauties can tuck their tails and their beaks under their wings to save space. Aside from all of those features, they are arrestingly beautiful.

Quiz: What are the two other species of toucan that live in Belize?

Photo courtesy of Gretchen Peck