The curl-crested aracari or curl-crested araçari, also known as the curly-crested aracari, is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family, the Toucans.
What is the curl-crested aracari?
It measures 40–45 cm (16–18 in) long and weighs 190–280 g (6.7–9.9 oz). On account of its relatively long tail and curly crest , it was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Beauharnaisius. Due to its extensive range, it is considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and consequently the IUCN. It is primarily a frugivore, but will also take nestlings of birds such as the yellow-rumped cacique.
Distribution and habitat
The curl-crested aracari is found in the south-western section of the Amazon Basin, with the Amazon River being its northern range limit. Near the Amazon River, its range extends east to about the Madeira River, while in the southern half of its range it extends east to the Xingu River. It is generally rare to uncommon, but regularly seen at several localities, including the Tambopata National Reserve in Peru, the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in Bolivia, and the Cristalino State Park near Alta Floresta in Brazil. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests.
They are brightly marked and have large, often-colorful bills. The family includes five genera and over forty different species. Toucans are arboreal and typically lay 2–21 white eggs in their nests. They make their nests in tree hollows and holes excavated by other animals such as woodpeckers—the toucan bill has very limited use as an excavation tool. When the eggs hatch, the young emerge completely naked, without any down. Toucans are resident breeders and do not migrate. Toucans are usually found in pairs or small flocks. They sometimes fence with their bills and wrestle, which scientists hypothesize they do to establish dominance hierarchies.
Image : By Lonnie Huffman – Own work, CC BY 3.0
Text : Wikipedia contributors. “Curl-crested aracari.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Oct. 2017. Web. 10 Dec. 2017. & Wikipedia contributors. “Toucan.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Sep. 2017. Web. 10 Dec. 2017.