Yellow-Ridged Toucan

Description:

This beautiful toucan has a pure white chest and yellow ridge on its oversize beak. A thin red strip of feathers borders the black belly, and blue skin surrounds the blue eye. Its feet are powder blue. The beak seems about as heavy as a similar amount of styrofome would be, which makes sense, as anything heavier would drag its front end down in flight.

Habitat:

This particular bird was a rehab subject, rescued in the surrounding riverine rain forest verging the Amazon River. He claimed all the railings around Otorongo Jungle Expeditions Lodge as his own. He ate fruit, and I saw him catch a moth.

Notes:

Tio Juan was rascally, pecking gently at anyone passing his perch. But if you snaked out a hand and clasped his beak, you could move in close and interact, as he couldn't rear back far enough to nail you with the beak. He enjoyed human company, sidling closer once you entered his sphere, and enjoyed having his neck rubbed.