Black-billed Mountain-Toucan (Andigena nigrirostris)

Identification & Behavior: ~43 cm (17 in). The Black-billed Mountain-Toucan has black cap and nape. The upperparts are coppery with a chestnut tip of the tail.  The throat, upper breast and sides of the head are white with the rest of the underparts blue. The uppertail coverts are yellow. The undertail coverts are red. The bill is black with red-wine on the base of the upper mandible.  It is similar to Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, but is distinguished by white throat and sides of the head, blue underparts, and black bill.

Status: The Black-billed Mountain-Toucan is rare in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes on the north and west side of the Marañon Valley. It is known to range between 2000 – 2400 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Tucan-Andino de Pico Negro.

Sub-species: Black-billed Mountain-Toucan (Andigena nigrirostris spilorhynchus), Gould 1858.

Meaning of Name: Andigena: Related to or coming from the Andean Mountains. nigrirostris: L. niger= black and rostris= bill.

See more of the Family Ramphastidae