Species · GBIF taxon 5229012
Emerald Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus prasinusAlso known as Northern Emerald Toucanet, Wagler's Toucanet, Green Toucanet
Emerald toucanets are vibrant, grass-green forest birds that travel through the canopy in small, noisy family groups of up to a dozen individuals. They use their massive, yellow-and-black bills with surprising dexterity to pluck ripe fruits, toss them into the air, and swallow them whole. During the breeding season, these social birds nest in abandoned woodpecker holes, where both parents take turns incubating eggs and feeding the chicks.
MontaneFrugivorousCanopy Dweller
Licensed referenceGiles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Omnivorous, primarily feeding on fruits, berries, insects, and small vertebrates.
- family
- Ramphastidae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the illegal pet trade.
- life Span
- 12 to 15 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen for Calls: Listen for their dry, repetitive, frog-like croaking calls to locate them high in the cloud forest canopy.
- Watch Fruiting Trees: Position yourself quietly near wild fig or Cecropia trees, which are favorite feeding sites.
- Use Binoculars: Keep a respectful distance and use binoculars to appreciate the subtle blue and chestnut markings on their throat and tail.