Channel-billed Toucan
VU

Channel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos vitellinus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel-billed_toucan

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Ramphastidae

White-Throated ToucanVU

White-Throated Toucan

Ramphastos tucanus

Unknown
Yellow-throated ToucanVU

Yellow-throated Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Unknown
Grey-breasted Mountain ToucanVU

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

Andigena hypoglauca

Unknown
Plate-billed Mountain-toucanVU

Plate-billed Mountain-toucan

Andigena laminirostris

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Channel-billed Toucan classified as Vulnerable?
Channel-billed Toucan is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. 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.
Where does Channel-billed Toucan live?
Channel-billed Toucan occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Channel-billed Toucan?
The main threats to Channel-billed Toucan are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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