Friday, 3 October 2025

Two-Can Toucan

 

Two Can Toucan


One of my favourite books for young children is ‘Two Can Toucan’ by David McKee. Like Elmer the Elephant, it takes readers gently through the difficulties associated with differing from one’s peers. I was reminded of this book the other day when a toucan appeared on my screensaver.

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.

1 comment:

  1. 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!

    ReplyDelete



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