The largest Costa‑Rican toucan (total length 52–61 cm) with velvety black body, saffron‑yellow throat and breast bordered by a narrow red band. Uppertail coverts and undertail are vivid crimson; rump and base of tail olive‑green. The massive laterally compressed bill (15–20 cm) is dark maroon‑brown above and bright yellow on the maxilla, with a green culmen line and sky‑blue base; despite length it is lightweight due to a honey‑comb bony core. Bare facial skin lime‑green; legs pale blue. Sexes identical; juveniles display shorter, duller bills.
Total length 52–61 cm; wingspan 92–100 cm
540–760 g
20–25 yr wild; 30 + yr captivity
Data deficient
Data deficient
≈ 4 yr
February – June (late dry to early wet)
2–4 eggs; one clutch per year
The largest Costa‑Rican toucan (total length 52–61 cm) with velvety black body, saffron‑yellow throat and breast bordered by a narrow red band. Uppertail coverts and undertail are vivid crimson; rump and base of tail olive‑green. The massive laterally compressed bill (15–20 cm) is dark maroon‑brown above and bright yellow on the maxilla, with a green culmen line and sky‑blue base; despite length it is lightweight due to a honey‑comb bony core. Bare facial skin lime‑green; legs pale blue. Sexes identical; juveniles display shorter, duller bills.
Occupies mature and tall secondary lowland rain forest, wet premontane forest and mangrove‑backed gallery forest from sea level to ~1 200 m on both Caribbean and south‑Pacific slopes; requires large emergent trees for nesting cavities.
Primarily frugivore (~85 % diet) feeding on Ficus, Virola, Iryanthera and Lauraceae; supplements with insects, frogs, lizards and other birds’ eggs; long‑distance seed disperser
Social Structure & Behaviour
Activity pattern: diurnal; heaviest foraging 06:00–10:00 and 15:00–17:30.
Group size: travel in small flocks of 4–10; communal roosts up to 20 in hollow trees.
Breeding system: seasonal monogamy; both sexes excavate/clean pre‑existing cavities 15–30 m high.
Territoriality: pairs defend immediate nest vicinity; home ranges ≥ 50 ha overlap widely.
Communication: loud yelping “yo‑yelp” series; bill clattering, head bowing and mutual preening for pair bonding.
Special behaviours: engage in bill jousting play; thermal regulation via bill vasodilation; regurgitate seeds intact, enhancing germination success of large‑seed trees.
Produces frog‑like croaks audible 1 km through forest.
Can regurgitate indigestible seed cores up to 25 mm across, aiding seed survival.
Roosts in groups of 3–6, tucking the bill under back feathers and rotating tail forward to fit narrow cavities.
Bill surface temperature can drop 10 °C within minutes after sunset.
Native
Decreasing
Robust requiem shark with fusiform body and high, slightly rounded first dorsal fin whose origin lies over (or just anterior to) the free rear tip of the pectorals. Snout long, broad and rounded; eyes circular with nictitating membrane. Dorsum uniform grey‑brown, ventrum white; no prominent flank markings.
