Blue-banded Toucanet

Overview

The blue-banded toucanet (Aulacorhynchus coeruleicinctis) is a near-passerine bird belonging to the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing despite a large range.

Identification

• Length of 40 to 44 cm and weight between 173 to 257 g, with sexes appearing alike.
• Plumage is mostly green featuring a red rump, white throat, a diffuse blue band across the chest, and greenish-yellow undertail coverts.
• Distinctive facial markings include a blue and white supercilium, pale blue below the eye, and an eye surrounded by bare dark grayish skin.
• Song consists of a series of barking, growling, variable notes such as 'kunnk' to 'krakk', accompanied by rattle calls and yelps.

Habitat

This species inhabits moist subtropical montane forest and cloudforest on the east slope of the Andes, ranging from central Peru's Department of Huánuco south to the Santa Cruz Department in Bolivia. It is typically found at elevations between 1,600 and 2,500 m, though it is known from 1,470 to 3,050 m.

Diet

The diet is primarily fruit but also includes insects and other arthropods. It forages at all levels of the forest, either alone, in pairs, or in small groups.

Did you know?

The bird's eye colour is highly variable, ranging from white through yellow to reddish brown. Its nesting season differs significantly by region, appearing to span from January to April or later in Peru, but from August to January in Bolivia.