Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Pantanal, Brazil • Aug 2011

Bird name: Chestnut Eared Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus castano
Other: Araçari-de-pescoço-vermelho (Br) • Tucanillo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W Amazonia to SE Brazil
Similar: Many-banded Aracari

The Chestnut-eared Aracari was the most frequently seen of the toucan family, on my recent trip to Mato Grosso. In the Pantanal I saw them at Curicaca Lodge and Pouso Alegre, then again in Chapada das Guimaraes and Alta Floresta. In the Pantanal it seemed to be the only Aracari in its range.

The Chestnut-eared Aracari head colour ranges from black to chestnut, though usually at least the side of the head is chestnut coloured. The white iris is diagnostic. In Brazil, only the Many-banded Aracari also has light irises, but it only lives in the far north-west, near Ecuador, it lacks the chestnut head colouring and black stripe on upper mandible, and has additional black markings to chest.

The upper bill of the Chestnut-eared Aracari is serrated - the dark parts look like they wear away leaving the white parts as teeth.

Below, close-up of Chestnut-eared Aracari, Pantanal, Brazil • Aug 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Regua, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Spot Billed Toucanet
Latin: Selenidera maculirostris
Other: Araçaru-poca (Br)• Tucancito de pico maculado, arasarí chico (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: Brazil Atlantic Rainforest
Similar:

Above, a female (or juvenile?) Spot-billed Toucanet. Below a male.

Spot-billed Toucanets are readily identified by three or four dark marks on the upper bill. Seen on excursions from Regua and Serra dos Tucanos, in northern Rio de Janeiro state.

Below, male Spot-billed Toucanet, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil • 2011
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Copyright: monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Keel Billed Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos sulfuratus
Other: Tucán pico iris (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: E Mexico to NW Venezuela
Similar:

We saw the Keel-billed Toucan quite frequently in the Canal Zone of Panama. We could see at least one, usually a pair or group, most days from the Canopy Tower itself, though often at some distance.

Unmistakeable by its beautiful lime green, raspberry, orange and sky blue bill, and yellow throat. More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul, Brazil • Sept 2011

Bird name: Red Necked Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus bitorquatus
Other: Araçari-de-pescoço-vermelho (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: S Amazonia
Similar:

Red-necked Aracaris near open farmland in Para, Brazil, September.

The head is a deep chestnut red colour, but so dark it can look black.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul, Brazil • Sept 2011

Bird name: Curl Crested Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus beauharnaesii
Other: araçari-mulato (Br)• arasarí crespo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W Amazonia, incl Brazil
Similar:

Rio Azul Lodge had several Curl-crested Aracaris visiting not far from the lodge, in degraded semi-open forest.

Purple, sky-blue and orange on upper bill, white lower bill, pale blue around eye, “curly hair”. The bird pictured above had no red on belly (maybe juvenile?), a little on flank, but many adults birds have the red band typical of many aracaris.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Rio Azul Lodge, Sept 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos tucanus
Other: Tucán goliblanco (Es) • Tucano-de-peito-branco (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: East Ecuador, Amazonia, incl Brazil
Similar: Channel Billed Toucan

These birds were identified by the Rio Azul Lodge guide as White-throated Toucans. Note blue patch at base of lower mandible, yellow above. Very similar to Channel-billed Toucan, though calls are different, so treat ID with caution.

Below, a White Throated Toucan in flight carrying food, in Para, Brazil, September
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chapada, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Channel Billed Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos vitellinus
Other: Tucano-de-bico-preto (Br)• tucán de pico acanalado (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Amazonia, E, SE Brazil
Similar: White-throated Toucan

These Channel-billed Toucans were identified as such by the guides at Chapada das Guimaraes, Mato Grosso, and Rio Azul Lodge, Para, in Brazil.

The main distinguishing feature between these Channel-billed Toucans and the local subspecies of White-throated Toucan is the colour of the base of the lower mandible: the Channel-billed Toucan is yellow on both upper and lower mandible, with a small patch of blue along the bottom edge of the base of the upper mandible, whereas the White-throated Toucan has blue on the lower mandible.

However, there are several subspecies …More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Iguaçu, Brazil • 2007

Bird name: Toco Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos toco
Other: Tucano-toco, Tucanuçu (Br)• Tucán toco, Tucán grande (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: NE, C, SE South America
Similar:

The Toco Toucan is the largest of the toucans, and probably the most well known.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Upper Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Lettered Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus inscriptus
Other: Arasari Letreado (Es), Araçari-letrado (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: W, S Amazonia including east Ecuador, Brazil
Similar:

Lettered Aracari were seen perching high up, on several occasions, in the Upper Napo region of Ecuadorian Amazonia. They are so named because of the inky markings on their upper bill. Like many other aracaris they often sit perched with a small fruit in their bills. Attractive birds and not uncommon.

Bill markings vary widely from individual to individual, some with few thick black lines, others with many thinner lines. The Ecuadorian subspecies pictured above is Pteroglossus inscriptus humboldti, which has a completely black lower bill.

The nominate subspecies, pictured below, lives in Brazil east of the Rio Madeira tributary of the Amazon, has much yellow on the lower bill, a black mark at base of lower mandible and black at tip.

Below, the Brazilian subspecies in flight. Bill mostly yellow. Para, Brazil, September.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Rio Azul Lodge, Brazil • 2011

Bird name: Gould's Toucanet
Latin: Selenidera gouldii
Other:
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: S Amazonia
Similar:

I saw these Gould’s Toucanets accompanied by Curl-crested Aracaris at Rio Azul Lodge. Identifiable by their bill pattern: black on half the upper bill, yellow at tip, black line on lower bill. Females have light brown heads.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Silanche, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pale Mandibled Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus erythropygius
Other: Arasari Piquipálido (Es) - split from P. torquatus, Collared Aracari
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Western Ecuador
Similar: Stripe Billed Aracari

I had good views of several Pale Mandibled Aracaris, first at the Rio Silanche Reserve, from the observation tower and in the forest, and then again at El Monte Lodge in Mindo.

The Pale Mandibled Aracari, which is split from the Collared Aracari complex, is best identified by its light lower bill, and one black band on the yellow belly with a smudge or dot on the chest.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Paz de las Aves, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Crimson Rumped Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus haematopygus
Other: Tucánete Lomirrojo (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, E Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-tipped Toucanet

Crimson Rumped Toucanets seemed to be one of the most easily seen of the toucan family in Pichincha, northwest Ecuador. First seen at Santa Lucia, then visiting feeders at Paz de las Aves.

Crimson Rumped Toucanets are mostly green, with red bill, rump and tail tip. Base of bill is white.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Mindo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Choco Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos brevis
Other: Tucán del Chocó (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Northwest Colombia to southwest Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

I was pleased to see these Choco Toucans in Mindo. They look similar to the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, although the latter has a brown, not black, lower mandible.More photos...

Copyright: TC/monacoeye • Sacha Lodge, Ecuador, Oct 2010 • Do not copy

Bird name: Many Banded Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus pluricinctus
Other: Arasari bifajeado (Es) • Araçari-de-cinta-dupla (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: NW Amazonia including E Ecuador
Similar:

Many thanks to Tom for adding his photos of the Many-Banded Aracari to this collection. On my recent visit to Ecuador, I didn’t venture very deep into Amazonia, so missed this beautiful aracari. I believe he saw it at Sacha Lodge in the Lower Napo. The only Ecuadorian aracari with two bands.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Throated Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus albivitta
Other: Tucán (Es) • split from Aulacorhynchus prasinus, Emerald Toucanet
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: E, C Colombia, W Venezuela, E Ecuador
Similar: Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Black-throated Toucanet

The guide at San Isidro Lodge called this an Emerald Toucanet, but the complex has now been split and this bird with a white, not blue, throat is now called the White-throated Toucanet by the IOC. I believe the other prasinus split is called the Black-throated Toucanet, which, as its name suggests, has a dark throat.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • San Isidro, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Billed Mountain Toucan
Latin: Andigena nigrirostris
Other: Tucán Andino Piquinegro (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, N Peru
Similar:

I was very pleased to see this beautiful Black-billed Mountain Toucan on the road from San Isidro to Tena. I had come very close to one at the Guacamayos Reserve a few days earlier, after following its call for an hour, but had been unable to see it properly because of the thick fog. Later with Phototoshop I revealed some colour, but at the time all I could see was white.

Prior to that, I had missed Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan at Guango, which others had seen just behind the lodge, so I was pleased to break a losing streak.

The Black-billed Mountain Toucan has a white throat and pale blue underparts.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Santa Lucia, Ecuador, Feb 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Plate Billed Mountain Toucan
Latin: Andigena laminirostris
Other: Tucán Andino Piquilaminado (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Southwest Colombia to south Ecuador
Similar:

The Plate-billed Mountain Toucan is an easy bird to identify with a characteristic buff rectangular plate on its bill. A beautiful bird with many colours, seen on several occasions, though usually at some distance, at the Santa Lucia reserve, and then again near Bellavista on the Ecoruta in northwest Ecuador.

The bird pictured may well be a juvenile.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Upper Napo, Ecuador, Mar 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black Mandibled Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos ambiguus
Other: Tucán mandíbula negra (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: W Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador to C Peru
Similar:

Although a terrible photo, this must be a Black-Mandibled Toucan, as it’s the only toucan in Ecuador east of the Andes with a yellow bib.

In Ecuador, a good sighting - the Upper Napo is one of only two areas where this bird can be found.

Copyright: monacoeye • Chagres River, Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Chestnut Mandibled Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos swainsonii
Other: Tucán de pico castaño, Tucán de Swainson (Es) • split from R. ambiguus
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: Southest Honduras to western Ecuador
Similar: Choco Toucan (Ecuador and Colombia)

I saw just one Chestnut-mandibled Toucan while in Panama and this was it. It was with a group of other toucans near the Chagres River in the Canal zone of central Panama. Stunning.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Blue Throated Toucanet
Latin: Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
Other: Split from A. prasinus, Emerald Toucanet
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: Costa Rica to W Panama
Similar:

A beautiful bird to see first thing in the morning as you step out of the car in the highlands of El Valle de Anton in Panama. The only green toucan in Panama. Has blue throat.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Chiriqui, May 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Fiery Billed Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus frantzii
Other: Arasarí piquinaranja (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Costa Rica, Panama
Similar: Collared Aracari

The Fiery-billed Aracari is found in the west of Panama and in Costa Rica. These were perched atop a tall tree when we arrived at the Finca Hartmann (a lovely bird-friendly coffee farm - well worth buying a couple of bags of coffee to take home with you while you’re there).

The Fiery-billed Aracari looks similar to the Collared Aracari but the upper bill is all red and orange.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Collared Aracari
Latin: Pteroglossus torquatus
Other: Tucancillo collarejo (Es) • Arasarí acollarado (Br)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris
Range: Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:

The Collared Aracari was not at all rare at the Canopy Tower. In fact one could usually be seen every morning at the crack of dawn or just before, feeding at the cecropias and other fruiting trees that surround the hotel. But the conditions never seemed very good for photography.

Upper mandible mostly light off-white with black tip, lower mandible black.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Green Billed Toucan
Latin: Ramphastos dicolorus
Other: Red Breasted Toucan • Toucano-de-bico-verde (Br) • Tucán bicolor (Es), Tucán pico verde
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans
Range: SE South America

The Green-billed Toucan can be seen quite easily in Itatiaia.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Saffron Toucanet
Latin: Pteroglossus bailloni
Other: Baillonius bailloni • Araçari-banana (Br) • Tucán banana (Es)
Family: Ramphastidae • Toucans, Toucanets
Range: SE South America

The photogenic Saffron Toucanet was a regular visitor to the fruit feeders at Hotel Ypê.More photos...

102c Ramphastidae • Toucans, Aracaris, Toucanets - IOC 2.8 2011

New World Barbets have been moved to their own families, Capitonidae and Semnornithidae.

Aulacorhynchus wagleri - Wagler's Toucanet - SW Mexico - split from A. prasinus;
Aulacorhynchus prasinus - Emerald Toucanet - E Mexico to Nicaragua
Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis - Blue-throated Toucanet - Costa Rica to W Panama - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus cognatus - Violet-throated Toucanet - E Panama, NW Colombia - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus lautus - Santa Marta Toucanet - N Colombia - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus griseigularis - Grey-throated Toucanet - C, W Colombia - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus albivitta - White-throated Toucanet - E, C Colombia, W Venezuela, E Ecuador - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus atrogularis - Black-throated Toucanet - C Ecuador to W Bolivia - split from A. prasinus
Aulacorhynchus sulcatus - Groove-billed Toucanet - NE, N Venezuela
Aulacorhynchus calorhynchus - Yellow-billed Toucanet - NE Colombia, NW Venezuela - split from A. sulcatus
Aulacorhynchus derbianus - Chestnut-tipped Toucanet - N Amazonia, S Colombia to C Bolivia, South America
Aulacorhynchus haematopygus - Crimson-rumped Toucanet - W Venezuela to E Ecuador
Aulacorhynchus huallagae - Yellow-browed Toucanet - E Peru
Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis - Blue-banded Toucanet - C Peru to SE Bolivia

Pteroglossus viridis - Green Aracari - NE Amazonia
Pteroglossus inscriptus - Lettered Aracari - W, S Amazonia
Pteroglossus bitorquatus - Red-necked Aracari - S Amazonia
Pteroglossus azara - Ivory-billed Aracari - NW Amazonia
Pteroglossus mariae - Brown-mandibled Aracari - SW Amazonia - split from P. azara
Pteroglossus aracari - Black-necked Aracari - NE, E South America
Pteroglossus castanotis - Chestnut-eared Aracari - W Amazonia to SE Brazil
Pteroglossus pluricinctus - Many-banded Aracari - NW Amazonia
Pteroglossus torquatus - Collared Aracari - Mexico to Venezuela
Pteroglossus sanguineus - Stripe-billed Aracari - W Colombia, NW Ecuador - split from P. torquatus
Pteroglossus erythropygius - Pale-mandibled Aracari - W Ecuador - split from P. torquatus
Pteroglossus frantzii - Fiery-billed Aracari - Costa Rica, Panama
Pteroglossus beauharnaesii - Curl-crested Aracari - W Amazonia
Pteroglossus bailloni - Saffron Toucanet - SE South America

Selenidera spectabilis - Yellow-eared Toucanet - Honduras to SW Colombia
Selenidera culik - Guianan Toucanet - NE Amazonia
Selenidera reinwardtii - Golden-collared Toucanet - W Amazonia
Selenidera nattereri - Tawny-tufted Toucanet - NC Amazonia
Selenidera gouldii - Gould's Toucanet - S Amazonia
Selenidera maculirostris - Spot-billed Toucanet - SE South America

Andigena hypoglauca - Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan - C Colombia to Peru
Andigena laminirostris - Plate-billed Mountain Toucan - SW Colombia to S Ecuador
Andigena cucullata - Hooded Mountain Toucan - SE Peru to C Bolivia
Andigena nigrirostris - Black-billed Mountain Toucan - W Venezuela to N Peru

Ramphastos dicolorus - Green-billed Toucan - SE South America (Red-breasted Toucan)
Ramphastos vitellinus - Channel-billed Toucan - Amazonia, E, SE Brazil
Ramphastos citreolaemus - Citron-throated Toucan - N Colombia, NW Venezuela - split from R. vitellinus
Ramphastos brevis - Choco Toucan - NW Colombia to SW Ecuador
Ramphastos sulfuratus - Keel-billed Toucan - E Mexico to NW Venezuela
Ramphastos toco - Toco Toucan - NE, C, SE South America
Ramphastos tucanus - White-throated Toucan - Amazonia
Ramphastos swainsonii - Chestnut-mandibled Toucan - SE Honduras to W Ecuador - split from R. ambiguus
Ramphastos ambiguus - Black-mandibled Toucan - W Venezuela to C Peru