Keel-billed Toucan
Acrylic on canvas, 12×16″ Original available; inquire
The Keel-billed Toucan is beyond doubt one of the beautiful iconic symbols of tropical birdlife in Central America. Known as tucán pico iris locally, the species is relatively common in all habitats in Panama and frequents our neighborhood, where in the early morning two or three of them are usually singing in a ‘croaking chorus’ (recording credit Jerome Fischer) high in the treetops.
I discovered around May 2021 that these birds are not only lovable fruit eaters but also marauding nestling snatchers, as meat also makes up part of their diet. Whenever a toucan was nearby, the common Clay-colored Thrushes would raise a racket with their alarm calls. I took these photos of one toucan feasting on one such unfortunate victim. Recently we had them coming into the palm tree by the terrace for the ripe fruit. See these photos on my Facebook album ‘Birds to the Backyard Office’; inspiration for more ‘toucan art’!