TOUCANS
January -February 2024
I started the new year off with toucans! I’m a big fan of creating very colorful work during the harsh winter months. There’s nothing worse than seasonal depression taking an effect on your work!
I’ve always been fascinated with toucans. Their beaks are the obvious showstoppers! Along with the toucans I created more applique orchids, which I enjoy creating around this time of the year because my real orchids are blooming! It’s also a plus that orchids grow wild in the rainforest, where toucans are native to!
Watch the mini slide show of photos to see details and some of my favorites from this batch!
Here are some facts I learned about toucans while painting-
Toucans are social birds and often live in flocks of up to 20 individuals.
Despite their large and heavy-looking beaks, toucans’ beaks are actually hollow and made of a lightweight material called keratin.
Toucans are primarily fruit-eaters, but they also consume insects, small lizards, and bird eggs when they can find them.
Toucans have a poor sense of smell but excellent vision, thanks to their large and forward-facing eyes.
In addition to their colorful beaks, toucans have striking feathers that come in a range of colors such as black, white, green, and yellow.
Toucans are important seed dispersers, as they consume fruits and then deposit the undigested seeds far away from the parent tree, helping to promote the growth of new plants in the ecosystem.
Toucans have a unique way of sleeping – they tuck their beaks under their wings and rest their tail feathers on a branch, with their head tucked down and facing their back.
There are over 40 species of toucans ranging from Central and South America.
Toucans are monogamous birds that mate for life. Once a pair forms a bond, they remain together for many years and may raise several broods of offspring together.
When toucan chicks hatch, they are naked and blind, and rely on their parents for food and protection. Toucan parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.
Toucans have been kept as pets for centuries and are popular among bird enthusiasts due to their distinctive appearance and lively personalities.
However, it is important to note that toucans are not suitable as pets for most people, as they require specialized care and a large amount of space.
Like many other tropical species, toucans are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation caused by deforestation and other human activities. This has led to declines in some populations, and several species are considered vulnerable or endangered.