In the family of toucans in Costa Rica, there are two aracaris species which are smaller than the true toucans but more colorful. The Aracari above has "fire" color in the upper jaw which gives the bird its common name. It's only encountered in the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and Western Panama. This species is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, but will also eat insects, lizards, bird eggs and other small prey.
They will often lay two white eggs, using abandoned woodpeckers nests in trees. Both sexes incubate the eggs for about 16 days, and the toucan chicks remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and have short bills and specialized pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest; they are also fed by both parents.
We can see this toucan in Manuel Antonio NationalPark; several of them currently live in a nest in a tree at the main trail of the park. It´s also possible to see them in the reserve of Arenas del Mar Resort in the bird watching tours early in the morning.
0 comments:
Post a Comment