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Love Birds (10)
Rpoole5552
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 88 W: 2 N: 35]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-n-s.gif) (990) | Toucans get their name from ‘tucano’ given to them by the Tupi Indians of Brazil. The largest species, the toco toucan, is about 25 inches (64 cm) long. the smallest toucan is the aracar toucanet which is only about 14 inches (36 cm) long.
Toco toucans, Ramphastos toco, have the largest bill of any toucan. The toco toucan is mainly black, with white on the throat and upper breast. The bill is orange crimson, fading to greenish yellow. There's a large black oval blotch near the tip of bill, and a narrow black line at the base. The most prominent feature of toucans are their bills, which are much lighter in weight than they appear. These large, boldly colored bills give them a distinctly out-of-balance appearance. A thin horny outer sheath encloses a hollow which is crisscrossed by many thin, bony, supporting rods. It has serrated edges which help to tear off pieces of larger fruits. Within the bill, the tongue is bristly and narrow, resembling a feather. It reaches to the tip of the bill. |
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