Today’s Belize Photo of the day is the Collared Aracari Toucan and its scientific name is Pteroglossus torquatus. The social toucanet breeds from Southern Mexico and throughout Central America making its year-round home in the tropical rainforests.

The Collared Aracari in the picture above was a member of a flock of 12  spotted at Chaa Creek feeding on the berries of a palm tree on an Early Morning Bird Watching Tour.

These brightly-colored birds are 15-16 inches long and both males and females look alike. Their most distinctive characteristic is its amazing brightly-marked and large serrated bill. Their beaks, about 4 inches long, are almost a quarter of the bird’s entire body!

Note: The main difference between the Aracari and toucans, besides size, is their tail. The Collared Aracari has a much more sharp and pointed tail than the larger toucans.

Submitted by Naturalist Guide: David Juarez

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