Channel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus
The Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) is a uncommon toucan found in 11 countries, weighing about 360 g. The channel-billed toucan is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.
About the Channel-billed Toucan
The channel-billed toucan is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Like other toucans, the channel-billed is brightly marked and has a huge bill. It is typically 48 cm (19 in) long with a 9–14 cm (3½-5½ in) bill. It weighs 300–430 g (11–15 oz) Nominate race (R. v. vitellinus): Its upperparts, belly, tail and most of the bill are black, and the uppertail and undertail coverts are red. The bare eye-patch and bill base are blue, the throat is white, most of the central breast is yellow-orange fading to white laterally and the lower breast sharply contrasts with a broad transverse red band. The iris is dark brownish.
What the Channel-billed Toucan sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Channel-billed Toucan can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Channel-billed Toucan?
- Like other toucans, the channel-billed is brightly marked and has a huge bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Channel-billed Toucan?
- The Channel-billed Toucan is a large sized bird weighing about 360 g.
- Where can you see a Channel-billed Toucan?
- The Channel-billed Toucan occurs in 11 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad & Tobago.
- What does a Channel-billed Toucan sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Channel-billed Toucan on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Channel-billed Toucan?
- The Channel-billed Toucan is most easily confused with the Toco Toucan, the White-throated Toucan and the Red-breasted Toucan.
Learn the Channel-billed Toucan for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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