The chestnut-mandibled toucan is considered a subspecies of the yellow-throated toucan by some, but considered a separate species by others because their mitochondrial DNA differs by 1.35%. It is found from southeastern Honduras to western Ecuador. It is one of the largest species of toucan.
 |
| The inside of the bill is bright red. |
The head, lower breast and upper parts are mainly black with maroon overlays; the face and upper breast are bright yellow with a thin red line on the throat; the upper tail is white; the lower abdomen is red; the legs are blue; it has a massive bicolor bill divided diagonally with yellow on top and chestnut on the bottom; and the skin on its face around the eye is light green.
We saw several of them at the Milpe Bird Sanctuary outside Mindo, the same area we saw two other species of toucan. Seeing toucans was a highlight of our trip to Ecuador for me. It is a bird I've always wanted to see in the wild.
Toucans are cool, because two can do better than one toucan can. 😂
ReplyDeleteI love how the colors on the bill are the reverse of the colors on the head--kind of a checkerboard effect. Also, the red on the tail and chest match the red inside the bill. Everything is so well planned.
ReplyDelete