Toucan Titles
Whether you're interested in learning more about toucans or considering bringing one into your home, it's a great idea to read up on these fascinating birds. The majority of available literature on toucans focuses on natural history and taxonomic information. While there are currently no books devoted specifically to toucan husbandry, a handful of informative articles do exist.
Below, you'll find a collection of useful articles on toucan husbandry and related information, many of which were written by our founder, Jerry Jennings, as well as a few other interesting reads. You will also find our top recommendations for books and field guides that offer species accounts and biological information on toucans and their natural habitats.
Articles & Contributions
Judy St. Leger, Martin Vince, Jerry Jennings, Erin McKerney, & Erika Nilson. (2012). "Toucan Hand Feeding and Nestling Growth". Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice. (15(2): 183-93).
Summary: A retrospective analysis of hand-feeding records and growth data for 8 toucan species raised in captivity. This study provides a basis for hand-feeding protocols and growth curves to assess development.
Jerry Jennings. (2001). "Order Piciformes. Captive Management: Family Ramphastidae (Toucans)". Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of South American Wild Animals. Iowa State University Press. (pp. 186-188).
Summary: Information on the captive management of toucans, including mate selection, housing, diet, and general health.
The AFA Watchbird magazine archives: First breedings and species accounts
Other Interesting Reads
Mauro Galetti et al. (2013). "Functional Extinction of Birds Drives Rapid Evolutionary Changes in Seed Size". Science. (340(6136):1086-1090).
Summary: A study showing how the loss of large fruit-eating birds (such as toucans) from tropical forest fragments in Brazil affects the reduction of seed size in a palm species.
Related popular article: "Toucans in the Forest Ecosystem"
José S.L. Patané et al. (2009). "Evolutionary history of Ramphastos toucans: Molecular phylogenetics, temporal diversification, and biogeography". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. (53(3): 923-934).
Summary: An expansion on the study of toucans as models in the formulation of Neotropical paleobiogeographic hypotheses and speciation, using additional DNA sequence data and more samples.
Yasuaki Seki et al. (2006). "The toucan beak: Structure and mechanical response". Materials Science and Engineering: C. (26(8): 1412-1420).
Summary: A study of the structure and mechanical response of a Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) beak, found to be a sandwich structure – a class of biological materials consisting of a solid shell and a cellular core; the cellular core increases the resistance of the shell to buckling, leading to a synergism between the two constituents.
Related popular article: "Engineers Discover Why Toucan Beaks Are Models of Lightweight Strength"
Reference Books & Guides
Toucans, Barbets, and Honeyguides, Lester L. Short & Jennifer F.M. Horne, 2001, Oxford University Press.
This book covers in unmatched detail the life history, relationships, biology, and conservation of all the world's toucans, barbets, and honeyguides. This in-depth portrayal includes wonderful plates of all the toucan species painted by well-known U.S. artist Albert Earl Gilbert. Some of the research on toucans was conducted by the authors at Emerald Forest Bird Gardens, as referenced in the bibliography. The illustrating artist also spent time at Emerald Forest sketching and photographing the birds for his studies. A must-have for the toucan aficionado.
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Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers, 2002, Lynx Edicions
This book covers six bird families including jacamars, puffbirds, toucans, barbets, honeyguides, and woodpeckers. The species accounts provide exhaustive information on morphology, habitat, feeding behavior, and breeding. In addition to excellent plates there are numerous photographs of toucans in the wild engaged in a variety of natural behaviors from foraging to nesting. Short and Horne (of Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides) are contributing authors to this text. A great addition to the aforementioned, and a must-have for the toucan aficionado.
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Birds in Brazil: A Natural History (Revised Edition), Helmut Sick, 1993, Princeton University Press
A scientific treatment of Brazil's 1635 bird species, written by the then dean of Brazilian ornithologists and published in Brazil in 1985, this book not only lists every individual Brazilian species and provides detailed accounts for most of them, but also gives an extensive treatment of the characteristics of each bird family found in the country. In addition, it analyzes the composition of Brazil's avifauna and relates it to the country's geography.
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A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans (Reprint Edition), John Gould, 1992
This book is a reprint of the original work by John Gould, published in 1834-1835, which marked the first attempt to picture and describe the whole toucan family. It includes 51 beautifully hand-colored lithographed plates, species accounts, and a specially written essay on the anatomy of the toucan accompanied by an uncolored plate of the anatomical structure of the toucan. An original edition is priceless, and this reproduction offers a glimpse into 19th-century bird art and ornithology, then in its infancy.
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Birds of Tropical America, Alexander Skutch, 1983, University of Texas Press
Describes the behavior, nesting habits, and life cycles of the various types of birds in the tropical forests of South and Central America, including a detailed description of the natural history of 34 species of birds native to Costa Rica. The last four chapters describe the natural history of the Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Fiery-billed Aracari, and Emerald Toucanet.
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Avian Speciation in tropical South America: With a Systematic Survey of the Toucans (Ramphastidae) and Jacamars (Galbulidae), Jurgen Haffer, 1974, Nuttall Ornithological Club
This book summarizes the author's research on speciation in several groups of neotropical birds, and studies on the changing environmental conditions during the recent geological past. Utilizing toucans and jacamars as examples, he arrives at a historical model of speciation in neotropical birds, likely applicable to the entire terrestrial fauna of tropical South and Middle America.
Buy NowField Guides
A Guide to the Birds of Colombia
Hilty & Brown, 1986
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica
Stiles & Skutch, 1989
The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide
Angehr & Dean, 2011
A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
Richard ffrench, 2013
A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela
Schauensee & Phelps, 1978