Chestnut-eared Aracari Pteroglossus castanotis Scientific name definitions

The Chestnut-eared Aracari is a medium-sized toucan of the Amazon Basin of South America, especially the southern and western parts of the basin.  It can be very common in its range and has the widest distribution of any of the aracaris.  Chestnut-eared Aracari is primarily frugivorous but also feeds on invertebrates.  It is an attractively patterned species with a large yellow and black bill, a pale eye surrounded by blue facial skin, dark upperparts, and a yellow belly divided by a red band.

43–47 cm; 220–310 g (slightly lighter to S). Male nominate race with black crown to nape, brown to chestnut sides of head, lower nape and upper throat , lower throat black ; dark green above with red rump; underparts yellow, with red or red and chestnut-black band on lower breast-belly, often some red also on upper breast, thighs cinnamon to chestnut-black; broad-based bill with orange to yellow basal line, mandible mainly black, maxilla with broad triangular black culmen stripe and orange-yellow sides, latter narrowing from tip backwards over long black triangle pointing from base towards tip, large tomial “teeth” black and ivory; facial skin mainly blue. Female browner from crown to nape and upper throat, narrower black area of lower throat, bill shorter. Immature duller, bill pattern muted, no basal line or tomial “teeth”. Race <em>australis</em> paler, rusty on nuchal area to upper throat, thighs green and rusty, red band below with rufous (not chestnut-black) admixed, base of bill with red mark ahead of orange basal band, latter more pronounced than in nominate race.

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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.

Feeds on fruits such as those of Cecropia, Coussapoa, Ficus, Ocotea and others ; at times, takes flowers and nectar, and also insects . Also hunts nestling birds  and searches for eggs  ; in one study, species was successful in 24% of its attempts in obtaining young Yellow-rumped Caciques (Cacicus cela) from their colonies; also known to prey on nests of swallows (Hirundinidae), finches (Fringillidae), doves (Columbidae). Attacks and drives some Campephilus woodpeckers from their cavities. Forages in lower canopy down to understorey, in vines and shrubs, as well as in trees; takes fruits by reaching, even hanging upside-down. Investigates, probes ­crevices and tree cavities.

Major call  “sneeep” to longer “psheee-eeep”, in irregular series at c. 2 per second, piercing and high-pitched  ; also single “tekk” call, low “eeee-eee”, call with 4 whistled “weet” notes and a “pyeee-tyee-tyee-tyee-tyet.”

Season Feb–Sept in N & W, Jun–Jan in Bolivia; Sept–Feb in SE Brazil, NE Argentina and E Paraguay. More than pair may be involved in some nestings, as very frequent in groups, uncommonly seen alone or in pairs. Rump often erected in display. Nest  in old woodpecker hole  , probably clears hole by excavating; in Peru, 2 nests in dead Cedrela odorata trees standing in lakebed; 5 birds of present species seen to drive 4 P. inscriptus from tree cavity, later nested in it. Eggs 2, probably up to 4; incubation and nestling  periods unknown. Longevity in captivity 17 years and 9 months.