This bird has quite an extensive pallet with over 113 plants included in its diet
Meet the Emerald Toucanet
Photo Courtesy of Brian Gratwicke / CC BY 2.0
Photo Courtesy of Jerry Kirkhart / CC BY 2.0
The bill is black with yellow on the upper mandible.
Juveniles tend to be dull in color, with the bill dusky, or entirely yellow in color.
“Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus)” all cropped) (by Julian Londono is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
These birds and other sub-species like the blue-throated toucanet live in the mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America.
Hans Norelius from Älvsjö, Sweden is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The Emerald toucanet prefers to live in humid forests at higher elevations.
“Aulacorhynchus prasinus / Tucancito Esmeralda / Emerald Toucanet” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Primarily an upper canopy, arboreal fruit-eater, this bird has quite an extensive pallet with over 113 plants included in its diet in Costa Rica alone. It will supplement its fruitarian diet with insects, lizards, and eggs.
Photo Courtesy of PEHart/CC BY 2.0
Nesting in tree cavities the Emerald toucanet breeds from March-August in Costa Rica, finding a nest about 2 – 27 meters off the ground. 3 – 4 eggs are laid in an unlined hole, sometimes an old woodpecker nest or a natural cavity. The eggs are incubated for 14 -15 days by both the male and the female before hatching. The hatchlings are fed by both parents too before being fledged at 6 weeks of age.
“Emerald Toucanet – Colombia _S4E5500” by fveronesi1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Due to its wide range, this bird is not thought to be under any immediate threat.
“Aulacorhynchus prasinus / Tucancito Esmeralda / Emerald Toucanet” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Watch and listen to this bird right here in the video below:
