The toucan is a brightly colored bird that is well known for its large, colorful bill. Toucans are found in the tropics of Central and South America. But are they found in Mexico? Let’s take a closer look at the natural history and distribution of toucans to find out.
What are toucans?
Toucans are members of the family Ramphastidae. There are over 40 different species of toucans, characterized by their large, colorful bills. The bill is the largest bill relative to body size of any bird. Toucans use their bills to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support their weight. They also use their bills for feeding young, tossing food into the air and catching it, and defending themselves. Toucans are mostly black with bright yellow, red, blue, green, orange, brown, or white markings on their body, especially the bill.
Toucans range in size from about 7 inches to over 2 feet long. The lettered aracari is the smallest species, while the toco toucan is the largest. Toucans have short, thick necks, rounded wings, and short tails. Their toes are arranged in pairs – two toes forward and two backward. This foot arrangement is called zygodactylous.
Where are toucans found?
Toucans are found throughout the tropics of Central and South America. Their range extends from Mexico south through Central America into South America, including the Amazon rainforest. Different toucan species have different ranges that overlap throughout this broad region.
Here are some examples of where different toucan species occur:
- Toco toucan – Eastern and Southern Brazil, Eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Northern Argentina
- Keel-billed toucan – Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras
- White-throated toucan – Southern Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Western Colombia, Ecuador
- Channel-billed toucan – Trinidad and Northern South America
So while no toucan species is found exclusively in Mexico, several species do have ranges that extend into southern Mexico.
Which toucan species live in Mexico?
Three toucan species have ranges that include part of Mexico:
Keel-billed Toucan
The keel-billed toucan has a range that includes Southern Mexico, as well as other Central American countries. It occurs in tropical forests on the Caribbean slope of Southern Mexico, south to Panama. This large black toucan has a rainbow-colored bill and a green-yellow bib under its throat.
White-throated Toucan
The white-throated toucan is found across southern Mexico, south to Colombia and Venezuela. In Mexico, its range overlaps with the keel-billed toucan along the Caribbean slope. It has a black body with a white throat, bright yellow bib under the bill, and a red-tipped black bill.
Emerald Toucanet
The emerald toucanet is the smallest toucan in Mexico, at only 7 inches long. Its range extends just into the southeastern corner of Mexico. This toucanet has bright green plumage with a red bill and blue facial skin.
Toucan Habitats in Mexico
Toucans in Mexico primarily inhabit tropical evergreen forests in the southern part of the country. These forests receive ample rainfall to support large trees and lush vegetation. Toucans also occur in forest edges and clearings, as well as coffee and cacao plantations.
Some key toucan habitats in Mexico include:
- Yucatan Peninsula – Tropical forests and ancient Mayan sites provide habitat for keel-billed and white-throated toucans.
- Sierra Madre de Chiapas – Dense, remote forests in this mountain range host all three Mexican toucan species.
- Oaxaca – Evergreen forests around Oaxaca City are home to emerald toucanets.
- Coastal areas – Mangrove forests lining the Caribbean coast provide habitat for keel-billed toucans.
Toucan Diet and Behavior
Toucans in Mexico feed on a variety of fruits, berries, nuts, insects, eggs, young birds, lizards, and frogs. Their large bill allows them to access fruits on thin branches. Toucans play an important ecological role by dispersing seeds from the fruit they eat.
Toucans are highly social birds that live in small flocks. Their loud, croaking calls carry through the forest. Toucans nest in tree holes, where they lay 2-4 white eggs. Chicks hatch helpless and naked but develop quickly. Both parents feed the chicks and help them fledge from the nest.
Some notable behaviors of Mexican toucans include:
- Keel-billed toucans often perch conspicuously at the tops of trees, giving their loud call.
- White-throated toucans forage in small groups, using their bills to pluck fruit and probe crevices.
- Emerald toucanets move through the forest canopy in noisy, active flocks.
Threats to Toucans in Mexico
Deforestation poses the biggest threat to toucan populations in Mexico. Logging, clearing land for agriculture, and development remove the tropical forest habitats toucans rely on. Illegal pet trade also threatens some toucan species. Keel-billed toucans are especially targeted for the pet trade due to their large, colorful bills.
Other threats Mexican toucans face include:
- Habitat fragmentation that isolates small populations
- Predation by introduced species like rats, cats, and mongooses
- Pesticide poisoning from chemicals sprayed on agricultural fields
- Climate change drying out and warming forests
Several toucan species in Mexico have declining populations due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect remaining forests to preserve habitat for threatened toucan species.
Conclusion
While no toucan species occurs exclusively in Mexico, three toucan species have ranges extending into southern Mexico. The keel-billed toucan, white-throated toucan, and emerald toucanet inhabit tropical forests from southern Mexico into Central and South America. These iconic, colorful birds rely on remaining patches of tropical forests threatened by deforestation. Ongoing conservation efforts throughout the region aim to preserve vital habitat and protect populations of these unique toucan species.