Sightings
Channel-billed Toucan was seen on several occasions at the Asa Wright Centre in Trinidad but usually at some distance from the central lodge and too far to photograph. We were fortunate therefore to see this bird in a tree along the side of the road during our visit to the lowland areas of Trinidad.
Species
Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus is found in forest and woodland. It prefers humid regions, but locally extends into drier regions especially along rivers. It is mainly in lowlands, but locally to an altitude of 1,700 m (5,600 ft). This species is an arboreal fruit-eater, but will take insects, small reptiles, eggs and frogs.
Status and distribution
The species is classified as vulnerable with a decreasing population in a relatively small range of some 2 million square kilometres. It is susceptible to both hunting pressure and deforestation. It is found in Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia. It is a common Trinidad resident in secondary scrub, cultivated estates and forests. It is absent from Tobago. There are three subspecies of which R. v. vitellinus is found in Trinidad.
References
Asa Wright Centre; BirdLife; Wikipedia; World Bird Names; Kenefick, M., Restall, R., and Hayes, F. (2015) Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 170
Photograph
Photographed in sunshine at 1/2000th of a second, f5.6 and ISO 250
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Location: Arena Forest Reserve
Family: Toucans (Ramphastidae)
Species: Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus)
Date taken: 10/05/2017