TOUCANS
(KEEL-BILLED & TOCO TOUCAN)

A family of birds home in the forests of Central and South America. Their usually subtle black and white bodies are in contrast with the striking colours of their heads and beaks. The distinctive beak - half the length of the bird’s body, is made of a thin, yet strong outer shell and a sponge-like inner material. This compound makes the beak strong enough to crack nuts open, sharp enough to slice fuits and also super light and resilient for flight. The individual number of toucans in the wild are dropping due to deforestation that results in habitat loss, and the ever present illegal wildlife trade.