Saffron Toucanet Pteroglossus bailloni Scientific name definitions

This is a very aptly-named species of ramphastid: the face and underparts of the Saffron Toucanet are predominately yellow, and the upperparts are yellow olive. The appearance of this toucanet is so distinctive that traditionally is was classified in the monotypic genus Baillonius. Recent phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequence data, however, demonstrate that the Saffron Toucanet is a distinctively-plumaged species of aracari (Pteroglossus), and is most closely related to Green (Pteroglossus viridis) and Lettered aracaris (Pteroglossus inscriptus). The Saffron Toucanet is restricted to humid forests of southeastern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay, and usually is uncommon. Despite its distinctive appearance, the Saffron Toucanet has not been well-studied, and little is known about its natural history. Saffron Toucanets often are quiet, even secretive; they forage for fruit, and perhaps young birds and eggs, in mid levels and the canopy of forest.

35–39 cm; female c. 129·8 (1 McNab, B.K. (2001). Energetics of toucans, a barbet, and a hornbill: implications for avian frugivory. Auk. 118(4): 916-933. Close )–168·6 g (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Highly distinctive. Male saffron-yellow, gold and olive, with rump red; culmen and most of bill horn with obvious greenish-yellow tones, red area around base narrowing to a point around middle of maxilla, with diffuse greenish to grey-blue margins; facial skin red  ; eye pale yellow  . Female more olive, less gold and yellow, with shorter bill (52·9–65·9 mm, versus 66·5–82·5 mm in male) (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Immature  with lax plumage more olive and grey, rump pinkish-red, blotchy bill without basal line and tomial “teeth”, rectrices more pointed, tarsi with remnant hypotarsal scutes, eye brown.

E Brazil (Pernambuco; Bahia, Espírito Santo and adjacent Minas Gerais S to W & NE Santa Catarina and extreme N Rio Grande do Sul) to EC Paraguay and NE Argentina (N Misiones).

Moist subtropical forest , generally on slopes and beside streams; also edges, and in secondary and selectively logged forest. From sea-level to 1550 m, in S usually at c. 400–600 m.

Probably moves to fruiting trees outside home range; possibly also some downslope movement after breeding.

Mainly fruits , such as those of Cecropia, Ficus, Euterpe  , Eugenia uniflora, Melia azedarach (5 Esquivel, A., M. C. Velázquez, A. Bodrati, R. M. Fraga, H. del Castillo, J. Klavins, R. P. Clay, A. Madroño, and S. J. Peris (2007). Status of the avifauna of San Rafael National Park, one of the last large fragments of Atlantic forest in Paraguay. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 301–317. Close ), Morus alba (5 Esquivel, A., M. C. Velázquez, A. Bodrati, R. M. Fraga, H. del Castillo, J. Klavins, R. P. Clay, A. Madroño, and S. J. Peris (2007). Status of the avifauna of San Rafael National Park, one of the last large fragments of Atlantic forest in Paraguay. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 301–317. Close ), Sloanea guianensis and Nectandra megapotamica; single record of eating flowers (Tabebuia sp.) in austral winter (6 Maciel, E. (2004). Saffron Toucanet Baillonus balloni eating flowers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cotinga. 22: 108. Close ). Eats young birds and/or eggs  , as observed predating nests of Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas) in Brazil and Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous) in Argentina (7 Bodrati, A., K. Cockle, J. M. Segovia, I. Roesler, J. I. Areta, and E. Jordan (2010). La avifauna del Parque Provincial Cruce Caballero, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Cotinga 32:41–64. Close ); in latter country, once seen to enter woodpecker nest containing young after evicting female White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster), was still in nest after three hours, and in Brazil observed unsuccessfully attempting to predate nest of Golden-capped Parakeet  (Aratinga auricapillus). Will visit artificial feeders  , feeding on banana, papaya  and other fruits. Feeds in pairs or small groups  (frequently up to five individuals, exceptionally 11) (5 Esquivel, A., M. C. Velázquez, A. Bodrati, R. M. Fraga, H. del Castillo, J. Klavins, R. P. Clay, A. Madroño, and S. J. Peris (2007). Status of the avifauna of San Rafael National Park, one of the last large fragments of Atlantic forest in Paraguay. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 301–317. Close ), sometimes with other toucans (7 Bodrati, A., K. Cockle, J. M. Segovia, I. Roesler, J. I. Areta, and E. Jordan (2010). La avifauna del Parque Provincial Cruce Caballero, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Cotinga 32:41–64. Close ) (e.g. Pteroglossus castanotis) (5 Esquivel, A., M. C. Velázquez, A. Bodrati, R. M. Fraga, H. del Castillo, J. Klavins, R. P. Clay, A. Madroño, and S. J. Peris (2007). Status of the avifauna of San Rafael National Park, one of the last large fragments of Atlantic forest in Paraguay. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 301–317. Close ), skulking and inconspicuous; five fed with 19 Selenidera maculirostris in fruiting palmito (Euterpe edulis), with other birds such as trogons (Trogonidae) and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow (Pyroderus scutatus) (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), but is subordinate to Ramphastos dicolorus (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ). Also seen with rails (Rallidae) and doves (Columbidae) on ground in ploughed field.

Extensive repertoire: song  (only by male?) (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) a series of 12–15 loud “teeee-up” notes that increase in tempo, often commence with a “peep” note and resemble  the song of Pteroglosssus azara (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), c. 1·75 per second; also woodpecker-like (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ) “yeep” or “yi” notes in series, may be rattle-like, some rattles wavering and lasting up to 35 seconds or more; purring, soft “uh” or “perp” notes, low “eeeeee” notes, soft rattles or tapping at nest, rattles also in courtship feeding and aggression.

Jun–Jul in far N, Dec–Apr in most of range. Details little known. Probably nests in pairs, excavating old woodpecker hole. Male sings, also courtship-feeds female, both tap at nest entrance, allopreen; male may attempt copulation  after softly allopreening facial area of female. Captive pair laid 2–3 white eggs, size 35·2 mm × 25·5 mm (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), both male and female incubated, period c. 16 days. Unfledged young found in Dec  . No other information. Longevity in captivity up to 13 years and three months.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Currently considered Near Threatened. Nowhere common, but is quite inconspicuous, and numbers possibly underestimated. In hills of mainly lowland SE São Paulo, c. 5 birds/km² at altitude of 400–600 m; another study in the same area found a density of c. 12 birds/km². Main threats are cage-bird trade, hunting, and habitat loss; montane forest generally suffering less intensive destruction than lowland forests, but isolated patches of forest in N are increasingly suffering inroads from agriculture and pastoral farming; overall species is considered to be highly sensitive to forest fragmentation (8 dos Anjos, L., Bochio, G.M., Campos, J.V., McCrate, G.B. and Palomino, F. (2009). Sobre o uso de níveis de sensibilidade de aves à fragmentação florestal na avaliação da Integridade Biótica: um estudo de caso no norte do Estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia. 17(1): 28-36. Close ). Species occurs in several protected areas in all three countries of its range: known to occur in Caetetus Biological Station (9 Donatelli, R.J. and Ferreira, C.D. (2009). Aves da Estação Ecológica de Caetetus, Gália, SP. Atualidades Ornitológicas. 148: 55-57. Close ), Intervales State Park (2 Short, L. L., and J. F. M. Horne (2001) Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Close ), Itatiaia and Iguaçu National Parks, in Brazil; in Estancia San Antonio Private Nature Reserve, San Rafael National Park (5 Esquivel, A., M. C. Velázquez, A. Bodrati, R. M. Fraga, H. del Castillo, J. Klavins, R. P. Clay, A. Madroño, and S. J. Peris (2007). Status of the avifauna of San Rafael National Park, one of the last large fragments of Atlantic forest in Paraguay. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 301–317. Close ), Reserva Natural del Bosque Mbaracayú, La Golondrina Private Nature Reserve, and Estancia Itabó Private Nature Reserve, all in Paraguay; and in Iguazú National Park and Cruce Caballero Provincial Park (7 Bodrati, A., K. Cockle, J. M. Segovia, I. Roesler, J. I. Areta, and E. Jordan (2010). La avifauna del Parque Provincial Cruce Caballero, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Cotinga 32:41–64. Close ), Argentina. Still hunted in parts of Paraguay, where often occurs in fragmented forest patches. More information required on pair and group relations, as well as data on breeding in the wild.