Ramphastidae

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | Copyright

Ramphastidae (toucans; class Aves, order Piciformes) A family of medium- to large-sized birds which have brightly coloured and contrasting black, white, red, yellow, green, and blue plumage (e.g. the nine Pteroglossus species have black heads, throats, and backs, with a green gloss on the back, bright red rumps, and yellow under-parts with bands of red and black across the breast). They have very large, deep bills coloured black, red, and yellow, with bare skin around the eyes. Their wings are short and rounded, their tails usually long, and their legs strong, with zygodactylous feet. They are gregarious, inhabit forests, feed on fruit, insects, and young birds, and nest in tree holes. There are six genera, with about 40 species, found in Central and S. America.

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Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

Ramphastidae
Book article from: A Dictionary of Zoology Ramphastidae ( toucans ; class Aves , order Piciformes) A family of medium- to large-sized birds which have brightly coloured and contrasting...
zygodactylous
Book article from: A Dictionary of Zoology zygodactylous In birds, applied to feet in which two toes point forwards, and two to the rear. The condition is found e.g. in Cuculidae , Picidae , Psittacidae , and Ramphastidae . Compare ANISODACTYLOUS .
Toucans
Encyclopedia entry from: The Gale Encyclopedia of Science Toucans Toucans are 41 species of familiar, brilliantly colored arboreal birds that make up the family Ramphastidae. Toucans are in the order Piciformes, which also includes the woodpeckers. Toucans range from southern Mexico to northern Argentina...
toucan
Book article from: The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English tou·can / ˈtoōˌkan; -ˌkän / • n. a tropical American fruit-eating bird (genera Ramphastos and Andigena , family Ramphastidae) with a massive bill and typically brightly colored plumage.
Pteroglossus
Book article from: A Dictionary of Zoology Pteroglossus ( toucans ) See RAMPHASTIDAE .

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