#fructivore

SCARLET MACAW Ara macao ©Laura Quick One of 17 species of macaws, the scarlet macaw is one of the most beautiful members of the parrot family and one of the largest Neotropical parrots. Scarlet macaws prefer life in the rainforest. With wide strong wings and hollow bones that aid flight, they can reach speeds of 56 kilometers (35 miles) per hour.

Diet: In the wild, macaws help promote forest growth by dropping seeds while they’re eating, and spreading seeds throughout the forest.

Lifespan: The scarlet macaw can live up to 75 years in captivity, although a more typical lifespan is 40 to 50 years.

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Scarlet Macaw

Blue and Gold Macaw

VIOLATEOUS TURACO Muscophaga violacea ©Laura Quick

These are unmistakable birds, but shy and often inconspicuous in the treetops. They are larger birds approximately 48 cm (19 in) long, including a long tail.  Their plumage is glossy violet, except for the yellow forehead, chestnut crown and white ear coverts; the bill is thick and red. In flight, the violet turaco's crimson primary flight feathers contrast with the violet plumage. The red color in the wings is typical of turacos.

This cooperative breeder is a resident in West Africa, and has an extremely large range from Senegal through to the Nigeria, with an isolated population in Chad and Central African Republic. It occurs in tropical savannas, wetlands, woodlands and forests.

Diet consists of fruit, and they are quite partial to figs, but they will also eat leaves, buds, flowers, insects, snails and slugs.

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Blue Coua

Violet Turaco

GUIANAN COCK OF THE ROCK Rupicola rupicola ©Juniorgirotto

They are found in tropical and subtropical rainforests close to rocky areas, where they build their nests. The genus is composed of only two known extant species: the Andean cock-of-the-rock and the smaller Guianan cock-of-the-rock. The Andean cock-of-the-rock is the national bird of Peru.

Except during the mating season, these birds are wary animals and difficult to see in the rainforest canopy. They primarily feed on fruits and berries and may be important dispersal agents for rainforest seeds.

Check out the great fancy feathers from back to tail. Unusual plumage and beautiful.

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Andean Cock of the Rock

Andean Cock of the Rock

KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN Ramphastos sulfuratus ©Laura Quick

The keel-billed toucan, also known as sulfur-breasted toucan or rainbow-billed toucan, is a colorful Latin American member of the toucan family. It is the national bird of Belize. It has blue feet and red feathers at the tip of its tail. The bill is mainly green with a red tip and orange sides.

The diet of keel-billed toucans consists mostly of a wide range of fruit, but may also include insects, eggs, nestlings and lizards.

Keel-billed toucans have blue zygodactyl feet (or feet with toes facing in different directions) – two toes face forward and two face back. source

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Keel-billed Toucan

Green-billed Toucan

KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN Ramphastos sulfuratus ©Laura Quick The keel-billed toucan, also known as sulfur-breasted toucan or rainbow-billed toucan, is a colorful Latin American member of the toucan family. It is the national bird of Belize. It has blue feet and red feathers at the tip of its tail. The bill is mainly green with a red tip and orange sides. The diet of keel-billed toucans consists mostly of a wide range of fruit, but may also include insects, eggs, nestlings and lizards. Keel-billed toucans have blue zygodactyl feet (or feet with toes facing in different directions) – two toes face forward and two face back Other posts you may like:

Rainbow Billed Toucan

Why are Puffin beaks flourescent?

Channel-Billed Toucan

Chestnut-Tipped Toucanet

TOCO TOUCAN Ramphastos toco  ©Laura Quick

The largest toucan species, the toco toucan is an impressive bird with a huge orange bill with a black tip and base. The body is mostly black with a white throat, and rump, and a red vent. Dark eyes are surrounded by orange and blue skin. Found in savanna and open woodland, avoiding humid forests. Makes a raucous far carrying croaking “wreh” call, and flies with noisy wingbeats.

Toco toucans also use their beaks to pluck and peel fruit, their main source of food. In addition, the beak houses a flat tongue of the same length, which helps the toucan catch insects, frogs, and reptiles. Toco toucans also occasionally eat the eggs of other birds.

Although they spend a lot of time in trees, they are not very good at flying. Toucans mainly travel among trees by hopping. When they do take flight, they flap their wings vigorously and glide, traveling only short distances. source1 source2

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Keel-billed Toucan

Why do Toucans Have a Colorful Beak?