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toucan
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Toucan
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Any South and Central American forest-dwelling bird of the genus Ramphastos, family Ramphastidae, order Piciformes. Toucans have very large, brilliantly coloured beaks and often handsome plumage. They live in small flocks and eat fruits, seeds, and insects. They nest in holes in trees, where the female lays 2–4 eggs; both parents care for the eggs and young. There are 37 species, ranging from 30 cm/1 ft to 60cm/2ft in size.
In the true toucans the ground colour of the plumage is generally black; the throat, breast and rump are adorned with yellow, red and white; the body is short and thick; the tail is rounded or even and can be turned up over the back when the bird goes to roost. The largest are about 60 cm/24 in long.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
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