Basic Information
The word “toucan” comes from the Tupi Indians of Brazil, who called these birds “tucana”!
Toucans - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Toucans For Kids
Toucans belong to the family Ramphastidae, and there are around 40 different kinds of toucans, toucanets, and aracaris!
A group of toucans is called a “durante” of toucans!
The smallest toucan is the lettered aracari, and it weighs only about 95 grams — lighter than a baseball!
The largest toucan species, the Toco Toucan, can grow up to 25 inches (63.5 cm) long — that’s about the size of a small child’s baseball bat!
A baby toucan is called a chick, just like other baby birds!
Male and female toucans are simply called male toucans and female toucans, since they look very much alike!
Toucans can live for up to 20 years in the wild — and with great care, some have even lived more than 25 years in captivity!
Most toucans wake up just before sunrise and go to sleep right after sunset!
Toucans are related to woodpeckers and share the same order of birds called Piciformes!
Physical Characteristics
A toucan’s enormous beak makes up about one-third of its total body length!
Despite its large size, a toucan’s beak is very light because it’s made of keratin — the same material as your fingernails!
Toucans have a special saw-like edge on their beaks that helps them catch and grip slippery fruits!
The inside of a toucan’s beak contains a network of blood vessels that helps regulate their body temperature!
Toucans have zygodactyl feet, which means they have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward!
A toucan’s tongue can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and looks like a feather!
Toucans’ eyes are protected by special membranes that close sideways instead of up and down like our eyelids!
The colorful part of a toucan’s beak is made of overlapping keratin plates, which grow continuously like your fingernails!
Toucans have beak edges that look saw-like — tiny ridges to help them peel and tear fruit!
Toucans have necks full of bendy bones — way more than ours — so they can turn and stretch their head pretty well. But they don’t swivel all the way around!
Behavior & Intelligence
Toucans are social birds that typically live in small groups of 6 to 12 individuals!
Toucans communicate with each other using a variety of sounds, including purring, croaking, and rattling!
Toucans sleep with their big bills tucked under their wings to stay warm.
Toucans often play catch with berries, tossing them to each other using their beaks!
During courtship, male toucans will offer fruit to female toucans as a way to show interest!
Toucans are talkative birds! They tap and clack their big bills to chat with each other, especially when they’re playing or courting!
Toucans are excellent problem solvers and can figure out how to access hard-to-reach fruit!
Toucans are most active during the day, especially in the late afternoon when they feed and socialize with their friends!
Toucans perform a special “bill-fencing” dance during courtship where they click their beaks together!
Habitat & Survival
Toucans live primarily in the rainforests of Central and South America!
Toucans typically make their homes in tree holes that were originally carved out by woodpeckers!
Toucans rarely fly long distances and prefer to hop from branch to branch!
Toucans can be found from sea level up to heights of 6,600 feet (2,000 meters) in mountain forests!
Toucans help spread seeds throughout the rainforest by eating fruit and dropping the seeds in new locations!
Toco toucans are tree-loving birds! They live high up in the rainforest canopy, hopping from branch to branch, and only occasionally visit the forest floor.
Toucans are important pollinators, helping flowers reproduce by carrying pollen on their feathers!
Toucans have natural predators including large hawks, eagles, and owls!
Toucans can regulate their body temperature by adjusting blood flow to their large beak!
Life Cycle
Toucan eggs are pure white and about the size of a chicken egg, about 4 cm (1.5 inches) long!
Both parent toucans take turns incubating their eggs for about 16–20 days!
Baby toucans are born blind and without feathers!
It takes about 3 weeks for baby toucans to start growing their first feathers!
Young toucans don’t develop their large, colorful beak until they’re several months old!
Female toucans typically lay 2–4 eggs at a time!
Baby toucans are fed by both parents, who take turns bringing them regurgitated food!
Young toucans practice using their beaks by picking up and dropping small objects!
Toucans reach full maturity at about 3–4 years of age!
Diet & Feeding
Toucans are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They mainly enjoy fruits like figs, guavas, and oranges, but they also eat insects, lizards, and even the eggs of small birds!
A toucan can throw food from its beak into its throat without moving its head!
Toucans help control insect populations by eating beetles, termites, and caterpillars!
