A closer look: Channel-billed vs Red-billed Toucan!

When you think of the undisturbed Amazon, you often associate it with exotic birds. Colorful and loud birds that is. Toucans can be seen as one of them; colorful, agile and loud. Here in Kabalebo we have 2 different toucans: the Channel-billed (left) and the Red-billed toucan (right). At first glance they look similar to each other. So it often occurs that these two can be easily mixed up or it can sometimes be confusing to tell them apart. Here are some simple clues to know them a bit better …..

But before we start, they also share similarities:

• both of them are omnivores; they eat berries and fruits, but also bird eggs, hatchlings, lizards and frogs
• solo travelers or seen in pairs
• share a unique sound which isn't actually pleasant to hear

Now the difference, we start with their throat/chest:

• Channel-billed Toucan: throat is yellow/orange colored (I often call it Yellow-throated toucan)
• Red-billed Toucan: throat is all white (it is also known as the White-throated toucan)

And the difference in the (upper) mandible:

• Channel-billed toucan: total black mandible with a blue end close to its head
• Red-billed toucan: a closer look you can see dark red with a bright yellow stripe on the upper mandible

So the next time you see a toucan ….

Related articles:

channel-billed toucan

Red-billed Toucan