| Ivory-billed aracari | |
|---|---|
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| P. a. flavirostris, Ecuador | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Ramphastidae |
| Genus: | Pteroglossus |
| Species: | P. azara |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteroglossus azara (Vieillot, 1819) | |
| Subspecies | |
See text | |
 | |
| Range | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Theivory-billed aracari orivory-billed araçari (Pteroglossus azara) is a bird in the toucan familyRamphastidae. It is found inBrazil,Colombia,Ecuador,Peru, andVenezuela.
The ivory-billed aracari wasformally described in 1819 by the French ornithologistLouis Vieillot under thebinomial nameRamphastos azara.[2][3] Vieillot based his account on "Le Toucan-Aracari, Azara" from Brazil that had been described and illustrated in 1807 by the French naturalistFrançois Levaillant.[4] The epithetazara was chosen to honour the Spanish soldier and naturalistFélix de Azara.[5] The ivory-billed aracari is now one of 13 species placed in the genusPteroglossus that was introduced in 1811 by the German zoologistJohann Karl Wilhelm Illiger.[6]
Threesubspecies are recognised:[6]
The subspeciesP. a. mariae has sometimes been considered as a separate species, the brown-mandibled aracari.[6]
The ivory-billed aracari is 36 to 45 cm (14 to 18 in) long and weighs 120 to 160 g (4.2 to 5.6 oz). The two subspecies (and the brown-mandibled species) do not differ appreciably in length, weight, or plumage but only in bill color. Adult males have a black cap above a chestnut head and throat, maroon-red nape and upper back, green lower back, and red rump. They have a narrow black band under the throat, a wide red band on the upper breast, a wide black band on the lower breast, a yellow belly, and green thighs. Adult females have a dark brown cap and a narrower black band below the throat than males.[7]
The nominate subspecies' bill is mostly yellow, with a deep red to brown line on themaxilla that is broad at the base and tapers to a black tip. It has red, black, and ivory markings along its edge that resemble teeth.P. a. flavirostris' bill has a yellow to ivory maxilla with an orange spot under the nostril, black and white "teeth", and a yellow to ivorymandible with a narrow orange-brown line down its middle.[7]
The nominate subspecies of ivory-billed aracari is found in the Brazilian state ofAmazonas between the left bank of theRio Solimões (upper Amazon) and the right bank of theRio Negro.P. a. flavirostris is found in southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru, and northwestern Brazil with some overlap with the nominate. The species inhabits a variety of forest landscapes includingvarzea,gallery forest, andsecondary forest, and to a lesser extentterra firme, bamboo, cloudforest, and plantations. It is more common in early- to mid-successional forest than mature. In elevation it is mostly found below 600 m (2,000 ft) but is regularly found to 900 m (3,000 ft) and locally to 600 m (2,000 ft) in the Ecuador-Bolivia border area. It is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[7]
The ivory-billed aracari forages in the forest's upper level and the canopy, typically in pairs or in a small group. There are few details known of its diet but it appears to be mostly fruit with somearthropods.[7]
The ivory-billed aracari's breeding season spans from December to May in most of its range but is from February to August in the western and southwestern parts of it. It is assumed to nest in tree cavities like other toucans. Its clutch size is two to four eggs. Nothing else is known about its breeding biology.[7]
| Songs and calls |
What is thought to be the ivory-billed aracari's song is "a series of 2–6 wailing 'twaaa-a-a' or 'tweee-ee' or 'traaa-at' notes". Other vocalizations include "rattles, grunt-like contact notes, nasal 'nyek', purr-like notes, 'kyeek' alarm, [and] pure rattles 'bddddt'".[7]
TheInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorised the ivory-billed aracari as being ofleast concern. It has a very large range, and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No immeditate threats have been identified.[1] The "[v]aried habitats utilized and changing nature of its successional habitats suggest that [the] species is not likely to become threatened in near future.[7]
