English           -           Red-breasted Toucan

Portuguese   -            Tucano-de-bico-verde

Latin              -             Ramphastos dicolorus

The Red-breasted Toucan (or the green billed Toucan) is the smallest species of the Ramphastos family. It is also the most southern species of toucan, occurring from eastern central Brazil south to eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.       

The Red-breasted Toucan’s name is derived from the large area of red feathers found on its belly, while its chest is orange-yellow with yellow sides and it top is black. Its bill is shorter than those of most other toucan species, averaging 10 cm n length.  They weigh up to 400g and can get to 46cm in length.

There main source of food is fruit and nuts but will also feed on other smaller animals like frogs, insects, etc but is also known to feed on nestlings and eggs of other birds.

The Red-breasted Toucan lives in forested areas from the coast to the mountainous areas, including plateau forests.
It inhabits the canopy of high forests, mainly in mountainous areas of the Atlantic forest. 

Red-breasted toucans live in pairs or small family groups. The mating ritual is a fun-loving affair for Toucans, as they throw fruit to one another. Like all of their other activities, nesting happens high up in hollow areas in trees. The bill is not effective for digging or any other type of extensive excavation work and so they must rely on holes already formed by other means. The nests are not lined, but the two to four shiny white eggs that are laid each year rest on a few wood chips created while enlarging the opening or on various kinds of regurgitated seeds collected for this purpose. Parents share incubation duties, but rarely sit on the nest for more than an hour at a time and the eggs are often left uncovered. Both parents share in feeding fruit to the babies for up to 8 weeks. After 16 days the nestlings are born blind, with no trace of down on their pink skin. The bill is unremarkable until about 16 days old when it takes on the distinguishing features of the toucan, and requires up to four months to develop fully. Feathers begin to expand at 4 weeks. Babies have pads on their elbows that protect their feet by keeping them elevated until they fledge.  

The Red-breasted Toucan was once common throughout its range ​​but due to the destruction of its natural habitat, it has become rare in some regions but in saying that The Red-breasted Toucan is classified as “of Least Concern”. In protected areas it is widespread and abundant and does not qualify for a more at risk category. (yet) 

All 3 photos of the Red-breasted Toucan were taken at Parque das Aves - Foz do Iguacu - Parana