Ivory-billed Aracari Pteroglossus azara Scientific name definitions

This species’ very similar plumage to the wholly allopatric Red-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus bitorquatus), which is only distributed east of Brazil’s Rio Madeira, suggests a close relationship between them, but instead the latter species is usually considered to be more closely related to the Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis) group of taxa. Like the Red-necked Aracari, the Ivory-billed Aracari’s three constituent subspecies have occasionally all been viewed at species level, but all three interbreed in their respective zones of overlap, a factor generally afforded high significance in toucan taxonomy. The Ivory-billed Aracari ranges over western Amazonia, where it inhabits both terra firme and seasonally flooded forests as far as the east-slope foothills of the Andes, from southeast Colombia south to north-central Bolivia, and east as far as the Rio Madeira. The species forages alone, in pairs, or in small groups of up to five, and takes a variety of fruits, especially Ficus figs and Cecropia catkins, but also catches flying insects.

36–45 cm; 100–200 g, mainly 120–160 g. Typical banded araçari  , small and with long, mostly yellow or cream bill . Male nominate race  has black cap, rest of head and throat chestnut, black band across lower throat, almost entirely maroon-red upper back to nape, red rump; broad red upper breastband, broad black lower breastband, yellow belly, thighs largely green; yellow bill  with deep red to brown line on side of maxilla, broad at base, tapering to black tip, tomial “teeth” red, black and ivory; orbital area black to grey, generally surrounded by maroon to red facial skin. Female shorter-billed, with cap dark brown, narrower line of black at lower throat. Immature duller, lax-plumaged, black areas browner, reds more orangey, yellow paler, mottled, bill vaguely marked without tomial “teeth” or basal line. Races differ almost solely in bill colour: <em>flavirostris</em> has yellow to greenish-cream or ivory maxilla with orange spot below nostril, black and white “teeth”, mandible yellow or ivory with tiny to long and narrow orange-brown line at centre beside tomia; <em>mariae</em> with maxilla yellow to ivory with black and white “teeth”, black sometimes forming tomial line distally, mandible mainly orange-brown, tip yellow or ivory, base beyond yellow basal line sometimes with small buff area behind brown, also orbital area perhaps more narrowly slaty-grey, so red facial area larger.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Inhabits seasonally flooded as well as terra firme wet forest , in lowlands and up to lower slopes of mountains, at times reaching cloudforest; also occurs in bamboo and other riverine vege­tation, gallery forest, woodland and forest along streams in savanna, secondary forest, plantations of trees, and edges. Numbers tend to be greatest in early and middle successional stages along lakes and streams, with fewer individuals in later successional stages, and fewest in latest transitional stages and in terra firme forest; occupation of islands and shifting rivers perhaps responsible for some apparently cross-river interbreeding of races across the Amazon-Solimões system. Mainly found below 600 m, but reaches 900 m and locally as high as 1400 m along E Andes between Ecuador and Bolivia.

Probably resident.

Feeds on fruits  of <em>Ficus</em> , Cecropia, Ocotea, Pagainea and others; has also been observed flycatching, and arthropod remains were found in one stomach; overall, however, few details available. Usually forages in pairs and in groups of 3–5 individuals, in upper levels and canopy, but also caught in mist-nets in understorey. Flees from fruiting trees on approach of calling group of larger P. beauharnaisii.

Possible song a series of 2–6 wailing “twaaa-a-a” or “tweee-ee” or “traaa-at” notes, each 0·2–0·5 seconds long, up to c. 1 per second, slowing in tempo over series, sometimes with initial more squawking “treee-awk” note; series of “ttaaaaw” given at times; also voiced rattles, grunt-like contact notes, nasal “nyek”, purr-like notes, “kyeek” alarm, pure rattles “bddddt”, loud wing noises during interactions.

Data from specimens indicate breeding season of Dec–May in NE of range, Feb–Aug in W & SW. Courtship feeding observed in the wild; no displays otherwise reported. Nest undescribed, probably uses old woodpecker hole; seen entering a cavity 18 m up a tree. Eggs 2–3 or 4; no further information available.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common in Colombia and Peru, but uncommon in Ecuador. Recorded density c. 2 pairs/100 ha in optimum habitats. Occurs in Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador, and in Tambopata Reserve, Peru. Varied habitats utilized and changing nature of its successional habitats suggest that species is not likely to become threatened in near future. Lack of knowledge of its breeding could hinder any conservation action, should that become necessary.