| Citron-throated toucan | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Ramphastidae |
| Genus: | Ramphastos |
| Species: | R. citreolaemus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ramphastos citreolaemus Gould, 1844 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Thecitron-throated toucan (Ramphastos citreolaemus) is anear-passerinebird in the familyRamphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, and aracaris. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.[2]
The citron-throated toucan is treated as a species by theInternational Ornithological Committee (IOC) andBirdLife International'sHandbook of the Birds of the World.[2][3] However, the South American Classification Committee of theAmerican Ornithological Society and theClements taxonomy treat it as a subspecies of thechannel-billed toucan (R. vitellinus).[4][5] The citron-throated toucan ismonotypic.[2]
The citron-throated toucan is about 48 cm (19 in) long and weighs about 360 g (13 oz). The sexes are alike. Their bill is mostly black. It has a narrow greenish-yellowculmen, a wide yellow band at the base of themaxilla, and a blue-green base to themandible. The eye is surrounded by bare pale blue skin. Most of the plumage is black. The rump, uppertailcoverts, throat, and breast are pale lemon yellow with a narrow red band below the breast. The undertail coverts are red.[6]
The citron-throated toucan is found from northern Colombia into northwestern Venezuela. It inhabits mature humid forest in the lowlands and foothills. In elevation it occurs from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft) in Venezuela and 900 m (3,000 ft) in Colombia.[6]
As far as is known, the citron-throated toucan is a year-round resident throughout its range.[6]
The citron-throated toucan typically forages from the forest mid-storey to its canopy but will pick up fallen fruit from the ground. Its diet is primarily a wide variety of fruits and also includes insects and otherarthropods, lizards, and birds and their eggs.[6]
The citron-throated toucan's breeding season appears to include at least January to July. Its breeding biology is assumed to be similar to that of the channel-billed toucan but no studies have been made.[6]
| Songs and calls |
The citron-throated toucan is one of the "croaker" group of toucans.[4] Its song is a "series of frog-like, croaking 'cree-op' notes".[6]
TheIUCN has assessed the citron-throated toucan as being of Least Concern. It has a large range, but its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[7] It is considered uncommon in Colombia, where it occurs in several protected areas. It is considered scarce and local in Venezuela "where its Andean foothill habitat around [the Lake] Maracaibo basin is fast disappearing".[6]
