Channel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos vitellinus
The channel-billed toucan is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel-billed_toucan
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Piciformes
Family
Ramphastidae
Genus
Ramphastos
Channel-billed Toucan belongs to the family Ramphastidae, order Piciformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The channel-billed toucan is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and in tropical South America as far south as southern Brazil and central Bolivia.
The Channel-billed Toucan faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its South American range, particularly due to agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure development. Additionally, the species is threatened by capture for the illegal pet trade, as toucans are highly sought after for their striking appearance and charismatic nature.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Channel-billed Toucans inhabit humid tropical lowland forests, gallery forests, and woodland edges from sea level up to approximately 1,200 meters elevation. They prefer primary and secondary rainforests with dense canopy cover, particularly areas rich in fruiting trees.
Threats
Agricultural expansion
Deforestation and habitat loss
Habitat fragmentation
Illegal capture for pet trade
Logging and timber extraction
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/channel-billed-toucan