Who do toucans eat in the rainforest. The toucans of the amazon rainforest and the hornbills of asian and african rainforests appear to be very similar but are not closely related an example of convergent evolution. They tend to hop more than they fly. Scientists have long understood that the palms seeds are dispersed by not only the large birds but smaller birds too.
Toco toucans often gather in large groups and chatter loudly and noisily their calls being synchronized with the fast upward swings of their beaks. However when the opportunity arises they sometimes prey on small animals or eggs. They will also eat lizards tree frogs insects and even the eggs of other birds.
Toucan sam is the mascot of kelloggs fruit loops cereal. They are brightly colored and have enormous beaks. Take the colorful toucan and the palm tree euterpe edulis in the brazilian rainforest.
Convergent evolution occurs when animals that are unrelated yet occupy similar ecological niches evolve similar characteristics in order to thrive in those niches. But the past 100 years have seen many changes in the. Diet of the toucan while each species is different most toucans primarily eat fruit which makes them frugivores.
Toco toucans nest and roost in holes in trees. Toucans primarily eat fruit but will occasionally eat insects and other small prey. Toucans inadvertently help plant new fruit trees.
Keel billed toucan ramphastos salfuratus. Toucans are birds that live in the tropical forests of central and south america. Toco toucans feed either individually or in small flocks in the canopy.
If toucans fail to find fruit they look for smaller prey such as juicy insects tree frogs snakes and lizards. Toucans do not migrate. Toucans are particularly fond of fruit that is brightly colored because this type of fruit is easier for them to locate.
In particular toucans tend to hunt for the nests of other birds to prey on the chicks and eggs found there. The seeds they consume often pass whole through their digestive systems and sprout where they land. The toco toucan eats mainly fruit using its beak however they will also occasionally eat insects reptiles and bird eggs.
They eat everything from frogs and insects to lizards and small birds.