Keel-Billed Toucan

The Keel-billed Toucan, also known as the Rainbow-billed Toucan, is notable for its colorful green, orange, red, and blue bill, which makes up about one-third of this bird’s 20-inch length.

The toucan’s beak appears quite heavy, but is actually light. It is hollow, made of the protein keratin with thin rods of bone for support.

These birds feed primarily on fruit, but will occasionally eats insects, reptiles, birds, and eggs. Keel-billed toucans move about the forest canopy by hopping from branch to branch.

Although the Keel-billed Toucan remains fairly common in much of its range, habitat loss poses a persistent threat to many populations. Also, this bird is captured for the pet trade and is sometimes still hunted for its meat and colorful feathers.

When toucans sleep, they turn their head so that their long bill rests on their back and their tail is folded over their head. Often found in abandoned tree hollows or old woodpecker holes, 5–6 adults may sleep in one hole.

The keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize.