Choco Toucan Ramphastos brevis Scientific name definitions

The Choco Toucan is a large toucan in the genus Ramphastos that is considered a “Choco” endemic, found in the Pacific lowlands and lower foothills of southwest Colombia and northwest Ecuador. Its very striking plumage includes black upperparts, a bright yellow throat and breast, a white rump, and red undertail coverts. The bill is black with a bright yellow culmen. It overlaps almost completely with the nearly identical Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsoni), and is best separated by its slightly smaller size, its black, as opposed to “chestnut” lower mandible, and most-importantly voice. Whenever there are two sympatric species or large toucans (particularly when they are identical in plumage), one is always a “croaker,” while the other is a “yelper.” In this case, Choco Toucan is clearly a “croaker.” It calls are very similar to those of Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulphuratus) of Central America, giving a series of croaking “grrrack…grrrack….grrrack….grrrack"  calls. Like other members of the genus Ramphastos, they move in small groups of 2-5 individuals, and nest in large cavities. Generally found in intact forest, but also frequent forest edge situations. They are often found foraging in fruiting trees. Males often work their way to the tops of large trees with emergent dead branches to call from, and they swish their heads back and forth while calling.

46–48·5 cm; 365–482 g. Both sexes with maroon tinge in black from forehead to upper back; black above, uppertail-coverts white; yellow throat and breast , narrow red band below yellow, black belly , red undertail-coverts  ; bill yellow above, with green on culmen and central sides meeting black of maxillary base, with grey marks above 3–5 maxillary tomial “teeth”, mandible black, tip sometimes yellow; facial-orbital skin yellow-green to olive-green, shows bluish in some; iris green with yellow to grey tinge. Distinguished from very similar R. ambiguus swainsonii by smaller size, and voice. Female with shorter, more blocky-looking bill than male. Immature soft-plumaged, colours duller, red orangey, bill more keeled, basal line and “teeth” absent, nostrils visible on top, which is browner.

NW Colombia (N Chocó) S, W of Andes, to SW Ecuador (S to Manta Real).

Generally inhabits lowland forest and also forest on lower Andean slopes, as well as adjacent pastures with fruiting trees or plantations. Groups or pairs wander widely, moving upslope to c.1550 m.

Diet little known; mainly undetermined fruits in stomachs; probably takes some insects and small vertebrates. Feeds in canopy , often with Pteroglossus torquatus, with which it interacts, but rarely with larger R. ambiguus. Can turn head upside-down in feeding. Noted following raiding army ants, presumably for animal prey they disturb. Drinks from water in bromeliads.

A series of croaks, “tree-aak” to “tyook” or “tyeerp”, 40–55 (sometimes to 100) per minute, notes growl-like and longer at start of series, which may go on for some minutes; male deeper, more growly notes; variations include more honking version, and soft notes audible only at close range; also clacks bill, and makes grating, clapping sounds with bill closed.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Chocó EBA. No information available on numbers. Judged to be uncommon to locally common in Ecuador, where has declined markedly due to extensive deforestation; large populations apparently persist in Esmeraldas, where much of forest remains largely intact (2 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close ). May possibly become threatened by further fragmentation of habitat; patchy habitat likely to render foraging for food for young difficult; also, nest-sites may be limited, as species probably requires large, secure natural cavities. Hunted for food, and its bill is used in traditional medicinal remedies. Requires study in order to determine its requirements, and to ascertain whether its present conservation status needs to be reassessed. Occurs in Río Ñambí Nature Reserve, Colombia, and in Río Palenque Science Centre, Ecuador.