Toco Toucan Facts for Kids Fun Information on Toucans

  • There are over 40 species of Toucans.
  • Toco Toucans are birds.
  • Toco Toucans are the largest species of toucans.
  • Toco Toucans are 25 inches long (that’s about 2ft) with a bill that is 7.5 inches longs
  • They weigh around 20 ounces. That’s a little over 1 pound.
  • Toco Toucans live in South America
  • Their habitats include rainforests, woodlands, savanna, plantations and other areas with a lot of scattered trees.
  • They nest in tree holes mostly mad by woodpeckers.
  • 5-4 Toco Toucans live in one nest.
  • Toco Toucans live in small flocks of about 6 toucans.
  • Toco Toucans have a black body with white on their chest.  They have orange skin around their eyes with a bright orange and yellow bill.
  • A Toco Toucan’s bill may look heavy put it’s very light.  Their bill is made out of keratin that is also found in our hair, skin and nails.  A Rhino’s horn is also made out of keratin.
  • Their tongue looks like a feather.
  • They use their tongue to catch food and fling it down their throat.
  • Their bight colors work as camouflage so they blend in the rainforests.
  • Toco Toucans are omnivores meaning they eat both meat and plants.
  • Toco Toucans eat fruit, insects, tree frogs, lizards, other small reptiles and sometimes eggs of other birds.
  • The lifespan of a Toco Toucan is 20 years.
  • When a Toco Toucan sleep they lay their bill on their backs and pull their tails over their head.
  • Toco Toucans do not fly very well.  When they do fly they glade for very short distances.  They usually hop from one tree to another.
  • Toco Toucans have a loud call which sounds similar to a frog.  You can hear a Toco Toucan’s call from up to a half a mile away.
  • A mother Toco Toucan lays 2-4 eggs per year.
  • Like a flamingo both the mother and father look after the egg until it hatches.
  • A Toco Toucan’s egg hatches within 16-20 days.
  • A baby Toco Toucan is called a chick.
  • A chick’s bill is not big when they are born.  It grows as they grow.
  • Predators to a Toco Toucan are large birds, weasels, jaguars, snakes and humans.
  • Humans often trop Toco Toucans and sell them as pets.
  • Fun Fact- The Kellogg’s cereal Fruit Loops mascot Toucan Sam is actually a Toco Toucan.