Two Can Toucan
Pictures appear randomly day by day and there’s a widget to click on to discover information about them. Yesterday’s was a koala bear, and today’s is Halnaker Windmill, an historic landmark in Chichester, England.
The particular toucan displayed was a keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) from Costa Rica. It also glories in the names ‘rainbow-billed’ or ‘sulphur-breasted’ toucan and is the national bird of Belize, in Central America.
Toucans have always fascinated me with their bright colours and extraordinary beak. What a schnozzle! I had never given much thought to their diet, but had assumed it was mainly fruit and berries. Indeed, they spend most of their time picking fruit with their multi-coloured bill, which is about one third of the bird’s total length, but they also eat insects, eggs, small birds, lizards, and reptiles when they can be found.
Though the beak may look heavy and awkward, it is very light, and contains many blood vessels which allow the bird to regulate its temperature.
Toucans are sociable birds, flying short distances together in small flocks. In family groups, they seem to play, tossing fruit to each other, or play-fight, using their bills.
Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
There are forty-three species of toucans, eight in the Ramphastos genus alone. Two Can Toucan remains my favourite, though. He might have been called Three Can Toucan, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why he wasn’t.
There used to be an ad for I think Guinness featuring a toucan balancing glasses on his beak. I didn't see the connection though!
ReplyDeletewas he balancing glasses or cans? Two cans. Toucans. I'm pretty sure it was cans.
DeleteI just briefly looked up Guinness and toucans. They were flying toucans balancing two glasses of Guinness, the idea being that Guinness builds strength. Another advertisement had a seal, and another a man holding an iron girder.
DeleteI did not know there are 43 Species of Toucans... they are a Magnificent Bird and almost look unreal, don't they? Nature sure has such diversity of Creatures and we're always finding out things about some we never knew.
ReplyDeleteThere's always something more to learn.
DeleteI am going to post about them tomorrow because toucan play that game. OK, not really.
ReplyDeleteOh, go on . . .
DeleteAC,ha! Adding this book to my list for my grandkids. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a sweet story. I hope your grandchildren will enjoy it.
DeleteI love Toucans for their beautiful colours, but did not know there was more than one type.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'd always somehow assumed there was just one type.
DeleteThe toucan was carrying cans of paint. He tried to carry 3 cans but had an accident which resulted in the colours on his beak. I loved this book and used it when I was on teaching practice. My children also loved it. We often had conversations about him.
ReplyDeleteAh, another devotee! I know the story by heart, as I'm sure you do.
DeleteThe toucan was top of my list of beautiful creatures to spot when we visited the rainforests of Costa Rica. I was very excited when we did get to see one.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I'm sure it was much more exciting than seeing them in a zoo.
DeleteDefinitely colourful.
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteI nearly spluttered out my mouthful of wine when I read bear in association with our koala, in bear free Australia.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about toucans, but I know a little more now. I don't think I'd like a finger in their beaks.
Sorry! My mistake. - we're so used to inaccurately saying koala bear. I won't do it again - promise!
DeleteI had various David McKee books in my classroom…and I remember that my own children enjoyed ‘King Rollo’.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t realise that there were so many varieties of Toucan! Stunning birds! Sal 😁
His books are lovely.
DeleteNature has a lovely way with colour, and on looking it up, both male and female have similar coloured bills though the female has a slightly different version, so no sexual allure there.
ReplyDeleteTo have male and female in similar guise is refreshing to see in the bird world, when they're so brightly-coloured. It's not quite so exciting or remarkable among the corvids.
DeleteWhen I see Toucans I always think of Toucan Sam from the Froot Loops commercials.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Toucan Sam - what fun!
DeleteOne of my grandsons loved toucan. We used tell toucan tales to get him to eat. I didn't know there was a book of toucan tales. Lovely
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of toucans being used to persuade children to eat - just boring old trains and planes.
DeleteIt's indeed a very beautiful bird ! I think I have never seen one, or maybe in a zoo. I only see crows and magpies (friends with the castle cats) they make a hell of noise, and probably have eaten all the little cute birds. I have only seen one sparrow so nothing special hidden in a bush !
ReplyDeleteI have only seen them in zoos and that a long time ago.
DeleteThanks for explaining why toucans have such large and amazing beaks. Interesting why Guinness once chose a toucan to star in their advertising when, as far as I know, there are no toucans at all in the tropical jungles of Ireland.
ReplyDeleteQuite! At least there's a chance of seeing seals off the Irish coast.
DeleteI love David McKee; King Rollo on TV was a favourite. OK, so I was grownup mother of 2 by then
ReplyDeleteAlso his alarming book Not now, Bernard, more relevant than ever now that parents tend to be glued to their phones..
I'd forgotten 'Not now, Bernard' - what a commentary on modern life and even more relevant today, as you say.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating
ReplyDeleteExtraordinary birds.
ReplyDeleteRegulating their temperature through their beaks, that's ingenious.
ReplyDeleteIt is!
Delete"Two-can Toucan" sounds like a winner. If only I had a small child around me as an excuse for reading it...
ReplyDeleteYou never need an excuse to read good children's literature - that is, good literature written for children. 😉
ReplyDeleteThe live bird is so very beautiful. And so is the artwork for the book.
ReplyDeleteI love David McKee's books - a clever writer and illustrator.
DeleteI know of the Elmer books, which have been translated into Dutch. Somehow, I think that Two Can Toucan would get lost in translation ...
ReplyDeleteThey are definitely exotic looking birds, but like you I had no idea of their diet! xxx
His books were translated into many languages - it would be interesting to know how Two Can Toucan translated! 😁
DeleteThe only toucan I remember was Toucan Sam the mascot for Froot Loops, a breakfast cereal.
ReplyDeleteAnn mentioned him, but he was new to me.
DeleteI'd never heard of this book but I can see why you'd recommend it for younger people.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sweet little story.
Deletewhen I see a toucan I think cereal, because my kids loved fruit loops. I had no idea there are 43 species and will try to retain it. haha on that. it sounds like a wonderful book
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely little story.
DeleteWell, I don't think I've ever given toucans a single thought. Interesting. I said the other day to a friend that I don't think I'd have done very well in the Stone Age - vegetarian, not much sense of direction, not very good at building things, can't run very fast - and she said she'd never considered how it would be for her. We're all different.
ReplyDeleteWe are all different. I could never have been a pioneer and would have perished.
DeleteGoodness! I had no idea that there are forty-three species of toucans!
ReplyDeleteA very colourful bird.
All the best Jan
It was a surprise to me, too.
ReplyDeleteI think the first time I came across a toucan was a Fruit Loops cereal box. :-) They are such beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteThey are amazing,
ReplyDelete