COSTA RICA
KILL-BILLED TOUCAN
[Ramphastos sulfuratus]. It is a large (about 52 cm long) colorful bird, and has a bill that can grow to be up to one third the size of its body. The large banana-shaped bill is the most distinguishing feature. The light weight of the keratin-composed bill is due to its hollow, bone-reinforced construction . The bill is edged with tooth-like ridges. Housed within the bill is a long, narrow, feather-like tongue. The body is black, and it has a bright yellow bib and cheeks. Its rump is white, and the undertail coverts are a brilliant red. The area directly around the eyes is bare, showing the pale blue skin underneath. Its bill, which takes up the entire front of its head, is green, with a bright orange blaze on the side, red on the tip of the upper mandible, and blue on the tip of the lower mandible. Males and females share the same coloration and large bill, the only difference being that the male is slightly larger than the female. It nests in natural or wood-pecker made tree cavities and lays clutches of 2 to 4 white glossy eggs. They can have up to 2 or 3 broods in a year. Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the eggs In Costa Rica they abound especially on the montane forests on the caribbean slopes.
FAUNA OF COSTA RICA
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