The Toucan
The Bill With a Bird
By Antoinette Templet

The toucan gained notoriety when it graced the fronts of millions of boxes of Fruit Loops cereal, encouraging children of all ages to "follow [their] nose[s]." Their colorfulness, intelligence, and entertaining qualities make toucans one of the most amusing species of birds to own.

Physiology/Morphology

There are approximately 40 known species of toucans. They are classified in the same genealogical family as the toucanet -- a smaller version of the toucan -- and the aracari -- which has a differently shaped beak, and is smaller than the toucan.

The toucan's beak is its most prominent feature, sometimes as long as its body. Toucans use their beaks for picking berries, for maintaining their territory and for attracting females' attention. The insides of their beaks are shaped like honeycombs, making them strong yet lightweight.

The toucan's body is anywhere from 13 to 25 inches long, slightly longer than their beaks. Their bodies are usually colored with black, white, red, yellow, blue, and green feathers. The toucans are poor fliers because of the size of their beaks, and they rely on hopping from branch to branch in trees.

While different species of toucans vary somewhat in longevity, the average lifespan of a well cared for toucan is at least ten years, and they can live to be approximately 15 years old. The toucanets live a few years more, but the aracaris have shorter life spans.

Only a few species of toucans are sexually dimorphic -- male and female have different characteristics. An avian vet can determine the gender of the toucan by DNA testing -- in which a blood or feather sample is tested -- or by probing the bird for sex organs.

The Toucan at Home

Toucans, as well as other birds of the same species, are indigenous to tropical America. They are found ranging from southern Mexico throughout South America and its neighboring islands.

By nature, toucans are rain forest dwellers, and live high among the treetops, as high as 9,000 feet. They also tend to be solitary creatures, avoided by other bird species since the toucans fight and kill them if provoked. It is not advisable to house different species of toucans together, as they will kill each other. Even introducing two birds of the same species should be done cautiously.

Food

A toucan's diet is fundamental to its health, and should be meticulously regulated. Toucans are softbills -- their diet is primarily fruit. In the wild, toucans consume berries, eggs, and sometimes small animals. During the mating season, they ingest a large amount of insects for protein. They get most of the water and moisture they need from the fruit they eat.

Caged toucans do not need the same variety in their diets as toucans in the wild, as long as they are fed fresh fruit -- which constitutes 50 percent of their diet -- and specially formulated softbill food, available at most pet stores. Since these foods are specially formulated, it is not necessary to supplement them with vitamins. Excess nutrients could potentially kill the toucan. Breeding toucans can be fed crickets for extra protein in addition to this diet.

An all-seed diet is to be avoided. Seeds kill toucans because their digestive tracts are not designed to dissolve the seeds. The toucan would starve to death if fed an all-seed diet.

Most fruits are relatively safe for the toucan to eat, but avoid fruits that have an excessive amount of citric acid because they can ulcerate stomachs, causing digestive problems. The most common citric fruits are grapefruit, orange, lime, pineapple, and tomato.

One of the most preferable fruits that the toucan eats is papaya. Grape, cantaloupe, apple, and banana are ideal fruits to be fed to toucans.

If giving the toucan nonformulated treats and foods, be careful of the amount given. Feeding the bird too much will cause it to overeat and get sick. Excess, uneaten food quickly rots and spoils and can kill the bird with bacteria and toxins if eaten.

Toucans obtain most of the water they need from the fruit they eat. They prefer to use their water supply for bathing. However, make sure a sufficient amount of cool, clean, fresh drinking water is always available.

Health Problems

The most common disease that affects the toucan is hematochromatosis -- iron storage disease. It occurs when the liver accumulates too much iron, eventually poisoning the bird. At this time, the only method to identify the disease in a living bird is through liver biopsy. Presently the only way to treat hematochromatosis is through phlebotomy, removing a certain amount of blood from the bird to decrease the amount of iron in its bloodstream.

The best way to avoid hematochromatosis is through prevention. Read the labels of all foods, and do not feed the toucan any red meat. It is not essential to a healthy diet, and has no nutritional value for them. However, do not remove all the iron from the toucan's diet.

Iron content is expressed in parts per million (ppm). An acceptable amount of iron in the kibble/softbill food is 120 ppm. However, some products that claim to be low in iron also contain propylene glycol, which will kill the toucan.

When toucans are exposed to infected mice or feces, they can contract bacterial diseases, including E. coli, salmonella, and yersinia. The first two are spread by infected or spoiled food, or feces. Yersinia -- pseudotuberculosis -- is spread by mice feces. All of these diseases are easily treatable.

Housing

When first bringing the toucan home, you should keep a watchful eye on it for several days, since it has undergone a lot of stress on its journey. It should be kept in a cage that closely approximates in size the one it was previously housed in to lessen this stress. The cage may be kept outdoors if the weather permits; otherwise, keep the bird indoors in its cage until signs of stress are no longer apparent.

Toucans require lots of room so that they can stretch their wings and run around. Whether housing the toucan indoors or outdoors, the bird should always have a very large cage, at least the size of a large parrot cage. The size of a good flight cage is 4 feet by 8 feet by 4 feet for smaller birds, and 8 feet by 12 feet by 6 feet for an average-size toucan. Another option is to build a cage, or have one built. Make the cage or aviary very tall, as toucans are most comfortable at higher elevations.

Plan on buying or constructing a cage or aviary of these dimensions because it is not a good idea to clip the toucan's wings. Its beak size does not allow it to maneuver and climb up the sides of the cage as most birds do, and it will have difficulty getting around the cage.

Take into consideration also that toucans can be very messy. If housing the toucan indoors, it is recommended that the surrounding cage bars be covered with durable plastic or plexiglass sheets. This will contain the mess while not detracting from viewing the bird.

If the toucan is to be kept out of doors, the ideal time to introduce it to the outside is in the morning as early as possible. It will familiarize itself with the location of food, water, and perches, and gradually relax in its new home.

Do not leave the toucan out of doors when it is raining, snowing, or when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the bird has adapted to its new environment, it is reasonably tolerant of weather extremes. This adjustment is gradual, though, and the toucan should be kept outside for spring, summer, and autumn first so that it can gradually acclimatize to the cold winter weather.

When the weather is cooler, another necessity for housing the toucan out of doors is a heat box. Toucans' toes can easily become frostbitten. The birds sit in front of or stand on these boxes. They are relatively easy to construct with plywood and a 250 watt heating lamp. Place the heating box about 8 feet from the ground, and put it near a perch. Make the boxes available to the toucans when temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reproduction and Rearing

The breeding season is generally from March to May. Do not breed the toucans during the winter -- eggs will be unhealthy and the young will be sickly -- or in the summer -- it is too hot for the parents to raise young successfully.

To raise their young in the wild, toucans make a nest in hollow tree trunks, digging out a hole with their powerful beaks. These nests are usually one or two feet deep. Lots of room should be allocated for the breeding pair, at least the size of their normal cage or aviary. Give them a feeling of security and privacy by making three of the four walls solid.

The female toucan lays three to four pure white eggs, and incubates them for 15 or 16 days; both parents incubate. Newborn toucans are nidicolous, or nest-reared. The babies are blind and naked at birth, and their eyes open after about three weeks. They are helpless and unable to leave the nest for about eight weeks, dependent upon both parents to feed them.

After this, the young toucans can care for themselves. The birds begin to leave the nest after 40 to 50 days, depending on size. During this time, supplement the parents' diet with live crickets. Also, soak their kibble/softbill food in water for the entire time the chicks are being fed.

If the parents refuse to rear their young, it becomes necessary to hand raise them. This is also necessary if the owner wishes to have a tame bird. Small amounts of food should be offered; wait until the bird has completely swallowed one bite before offering another, making sure that its mouth is totally empty. Feed each baby 10 to 15 percent of its body weight per six to ten servings per day. Feed them five to seven times a day.

There are several hand-feeding formulas available. Mix some strained papaya human baby food with this, omit adding additional vitamins or minerals.

Cost

Unfortunately, toucans are quite expensive; toucanets and aracaris are less expensive. The toucan varies in price from dealer to dealer, and from species to species. The toco toucan, Ramphastos toco, can cost as much as $6,000. Toucanets and aracaris can be as inexpensive as $800. Some breeders charge extra for hand raising the birds. If purchasing a toucan as a pet, it is highly recommended that a hand-raised bird be purchased. This may cost more, but it ensures a high quality pet that is likely to live a longer life.

House Pets

For the true and dedicated bird enthusiast, the toucan, or one of its close relatives, is a wonderful and very enjoyable pet. They are beautifully colored and very animated, providing hours of enjoyment for any owner. However, these birds are not for people with limited amounts of room or time. Their diets must be strictly maintained, or the birds will become sick and die.

The basic things to remember when raising or breeding toucans are: a low iron diet, a moderately warm climate, a suitable nesting log, a suitable cage or aviary, and a healthy compatible pair for reproduction.

If you have access to the Internet, check out the following web sites for additional information: Emerald Forest Bird Gardens, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, and The Toucan Palace.

While it may seem more trouble than not, toucans are great pets which are very fulfilling to raise and to breed. For those with any of the above mentioned restraints, it is best to consider another easier to care for pet. Do not miss out on any opportunity to experience the joy of toucans. You will not be disappointed.

Antoinette Templet is a freelenace writer and parakeet breeder who resides in New Orleans.

A reader writes in response to this article:

"I picked up the December issue of Bird Times to check out the article on toucans. I was glad to see that the article mentioned that these birds require an inordinate amount of time, space and effort and that they are not a good choice for most bird enthusiasts. I would like to add however, for those few individuals who have the dedication and expertise to work with toucans, that we have a responsibility to the conservation of toucans in the wild as well as their health and success in captivity. Please obtain only close-ringed, captive-hatched juvenile birds and only from a reputable breeder. Please assume (regardless of what the seller may communicate, or the apparent tameness of the bird) that an adult or nearly adult bird without a closed ring is a wild-caught bird."

Thanks for your advice! And we're glad you enjoyed the article and hope this recommendation helps any other readers that are interested in owning a Toucan.