The Keel Billed Toucan is one of the world’s most astonishing-looking birds, living in the forests of Central and South America. Their scientific name is Ramphastos sulphuratus.
They have extremely large beaks, which can be up to 20cm long and come in many colors.
Their beaks are a mix of green, red, and yellow.
With a length equivalent to a portion of the body, the Toucan bird’s beak resembles two colorful boats facing each other.
Studies show that Toucan birds’ beaks contain many blood vessels, allowing them to adjust the amount of blood to their beaks at all times in the surrounding environment, so experts used infrared cameras – capable of ability to detect changes in body temperature – to monitor the temperature at the surface of the Toucan’s beak.
When the weather is cold, the Toucan reduces the amount of blood to its beak to maintain body temperature and vice versa, it will cool its body and cool down quickly by increasing the amount of blood to its beak. They were truly surprised when they concluded: “The Toucan bird’s beak is like a body air conditioner.”
After all, elephants use their big ears to cool their bodies. The same goes for rabbits. So why don’t we try to think that the Toucan bird’s large beak initially had the same effect? – said evolutionary physiologist Glenn J. Tattersall, head of the research team at Brock University.
The fur on the body is black, the neck and chest are yellow.
The “boat-billed toucan” lives in tree hollows. They often meet in small families, eating fruits and large insects.
This bird has quite a loud call. They often scream loudly in the forest, so they are also nicknamed “chatty birds”.
Toucans’ main food is fruits, insects, eggs and reptiles.
Besides, although it is a bit short, its legs are extremely strong.
