Ramphastidae – Toucans & allies

A family of brilliantly colored and contrasting black, white, red, yellow, green, and blue birds that range in size from medium to big. Look at the Aracaris (members of genus Pteroglossus) with their black heads, throats, and backs, with green gloss on the back, bright red rumps, and yellow underparts with bands of red and black across the breast. A real party in the rainforests.

They have huge, deep bills with black, red, and yellow coloring and naked skin around the eyes. Their wings are small and rounded, with long tails and strong legs with zygodactylous feet. They are social, live in the woods, eat fruit, insects, and young birds, and build their nests in tree holes.