Emerald Toucanet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Image:Emerald Toucanet2.jpg Blue-throated Toucanet
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| Aulacorhynchus prasinus Gould, 1834 |
The Emerald Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus, is a near-passerine bird which breeds from tropical Mexico to northern Venezuela and eastern Peru. The distinctive form of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama is sometimes split as the Blue-throated Toucanet, Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis, (Gould, 1854).
The Emerald Toucanet is a common resident breeder in forest and more open woodland, mainly at higher elevations. The 3-4 white eggs are laid in an unlined hole in a tree, usually an old woodpecker nest, but sometimes a natural cavity. Both sexes incubate the eggs for at 14-15 days, and the toucan chicks remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and have short bills and specialised pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest. They are fed by both parents, and fledge after about 6 weeks. Image:E toucanet.jpg Like other toucans, the Emerald Toucanet is brightly marked and has a huge bill. The adult is 29 cm long and weighs 180 g. The sexes are alike in appearance, mainly green with a blue patch around the eye. The lower belly and the feather tips of the otherwise dull blue undertail are chestnut, The throat is white (blue in caeruleogularis). The bill has a black lower mandible and base of the upper mandible, the rest being bright yellow. The legs are bright green.
Juvenile Emerald Toucanets are duller, with a greyish throat and the black areas of the bill replaced with dusky. They are fed by the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.
Small flocks, usually consisting of 5-10 birds, move through the forest in "follow-my-leader" style with a direct and rapid flight. This species is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, but will also take insects, lizards, bird eggs, and other small prey. .
The calls of the Emerald Toucanet are a loud dry rrip rrip rrip rrip rrip, or a graval graval graval. It has been suggested that the two different calls are given by the two sexes. There are also croaking alarm and aggression calls.
The Emerald Toucanet is a popular pet toucan. Its small size, and quiet nature makes it well suited for apartment living. Its an affectionate bird when hand fed, loves to play and interact with its owner. They are cuddly birds similar to a cockatoo, and can learn tricks just as fast. These birds are active and need a large cage for their size, they require perches that they can hop back and forth on. A great enclosure would be something the size of a finch aviary, which is about the size of a large macaw cage but with smaller bar spacing more appropriate for the bird. They also require a high fruit diet, and they are sensitive to hemochromotosis (iron storage disease) makes it difficult for the novice keeper to maintain, however if the keeper is well informed and knows how to properly feed and house the bird then they can enjoy a wonderful pet bird for many years.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aulacorhynchus prasinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- A guide to the birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
- Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
[edit] External Links
- Bibliography of online, ornithological articles which explore the natural history of the Emerald toucanet, Aulacorhynchus prasinus prasinus.fr:Toucanet émeraude
