What species of Toucans are found in Costa Rica?
Family: RAMPHASTIDAE.
These quintessential Neotropical birds are readily recognized by their oversized beaks. Bill coloration is key to distinguishing between similar-looking species. Typically seen feeding at fruiting trees or calling from exposed perches, all members of the family are also predators that steal both eggs and nestlings of other birds, and opportunistically take insects and small vertebrates. Small groups of toucans usually fly in follow-the-leader fashion, with intervals of several seconds between each bird.
- Black-mandible Toucan- Ramphastos ambiguus
21 in (56 cm). The bicolored, yellow and dark-brown bill distinguishes in from the Keel-billed Toucan. On Caribbean and southern Pacific slopes, common in lowlands and decreasingly common up into middle elevations; to 3,900 ft (1,200 m). Inhabits forested and semi-open areas. Its song, a sonorous tee de, te-de, te-de, is one of the most common sounds in its range.
- Keel-billed Toucan – Ramphastos sulfuratus
The bright, multicolored bill differentiates it from Black-mandible Toucan. On Caribbean slope, common in lowlands and fairly common in foothills and middle elevations; on Pacific slope, rare in northern lowlands a fairly common at middle elevations (south to the Central Valley) to 4,600 (1,400 m). Inhabits forested and semi-open areas. Call is a dry, frog-like croak, repeated at length (similar to Yellow-eared Toucanet). The national bird of Belize.
- Yellow-eared Toucanet – Selenidera spectabilis
Small toucan with distinctive plumage pattern. Male has black body with bright yellow cheek patch; also note olive back and orange patch on flanks. Female similar; she lacks the yellow cheek patch but still has bright yellow-teal skin around the eye. Found in the forest canopy, usually in pairs or small family groups. Feeds on fruits, and sometimes perches conspicuously on an open branch.
- Collared Aracari – Pteroglossus torquatus
16 in (41 cm). Distinguished from the Fiery-billed Aracari by mostly chalky-white upper mandible and black belly band (no range overlap). Common in Caribbean lowlands, and decreasingly common up into foothills; uncommon in northern Pacific, where usually found in gallery forest; to 3,300 ft (1,000 m).
Small groups travel through mature wet forest, forest edge, and adjacent gardens. Most often heard vocalization is a high-pitched, two-note «hiccup.»
- Fiery-billed Aracari -Pteroglossus frantzii
17 in (43 cm). The central and southern Pacific slope counterpart of the Collared Aracari, this species has a red-orange upper mandible. Additionally, the belly band is red, not black. Small groups travel through mature wet forest forest edge, and adjacent gardens. The call is a high-pitched, two-note «hiccup. Endemic to CR and western Panama.
- Blue-thoated Toucanet aka Emerald Toucanet – Aulacorbynchus prasinus
12 in (30 cm). The only CR toucan with green breast and belly. The race that occurs in CR and western Panama has a distinctive dark-blue throat. Fairly common at middle elevations; from 2,600 to 7,900 ft (800 to 2,400 m). Forages at middle levels in montane wet forest and adjacent gardens and second growth. Quite vocal; most calls have a harsh, barking quality.
References:
https://costa-rica-guide.com/nature/wildlife/toucans-in-costa-rica/
Birds of Costa Rica – Book (second edition). Richard Garrigues & Robert Dean