Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
- Length
- 55–65 cm
- Family
- Toucans (Ramphastidae)
- Order
- Piciformes
Overview
The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) is a species of bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is the largest species of toucan and has a distinctive appearance, with a black body, a white throat, chest and uppertail-coverts, and red undertail-coverts. Its most conspicuous feature is its huge beak, which is yellow-orange with a black base and a large spot on the tip. It is endemic to South America, where it has a wide distribution from the Guianas south to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and its range has recently been expanding southwards. Unlike other toucans, which inhabit continuous forests, toco toucans inhabit a variety of semi-open habitats at altitudes of up to 1,750 m (5,740 ft).
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Fruit, plus eggs and nestlings.
How to identify it
- Largest toucan: huge orange bill with a black tip
- Black body and white throat
- Blue skin around the eye
Voice
Deep croaking calls.
Where to see it
- Pantanal, Brazil
- Iguazú Falls
Destination guides featuring this bird
- JJanuary: Poor or no data
- FFebruary: Poor or no data
- MMarch: Good
- AApril: Good
- MMay: Good
- JJune: Good
- JJuly: Good
- AAugust: Best
- SSeptember: Best
- OOctober: Best
- NNovember: Best
- DDecember: Poor or no data
- JJanuary: Poor or no data
- FFebruary: Poor or no data
- MMarch: Poor or no data
- AApril: Poor or no data
- MMay: Good
- JJune: Good
- JJuly: Best
- AAugust: Best
- SSeptember: Best
- OOctober: Best
- NNovember: Good
- DDecember: Poor or no data
Range and habitat
Continents
Habitats
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Toco toucan
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
