Toucan (Swainson's Toucan)

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Swainson's Toucan

Zoo Tek Phoenix

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Author: Genkicoll

Keywords: real birds

Date Released: Dec 5 2009

Current gcSwainsonToucan.ztd dated 20 September 2009

File Size: 131.87k

Compatibility: All Game Versions

Description: The Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, or Swainson's Toucan, Ramphastos swainsonii breeds from eastern Honduras to northern Colombia.

This species is replaced from southern Colombia to eastern Peru by the closely related Black-mandibled Toucan, R. ambiguus, with which it is sometimes considered conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species).

Breeding / Nesting

The Chestnut-mandibled Toucan is a resident breeder in moist lowland forest. The 2-4 white eggs are laid in an unlined cavity high in a decayed section of a living tree, or occasionally in an old woodpecker nest in a dead tree.

Both sexes incubate the eggs for at 14-15 days, and the toucan chicks remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and have short bills and specialised pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest. They are fed by both parents, and fledge after about 6 weeks.

Description

Like other toucans, the Chestnut-mandibled is brightly marked and has a large bill. The male is 56cm long and weighs 750g (26.5 oz). The smaller female is typically 52cm long and weighs 580g (20.5 oz).

The sexes are alike in appearance, mainly black with maroon hints to the head, upper back and lower breast. The face and upper breast are bright yellow, with narrow white and broader red lines forming a lower border. The upper tail is white and the lower abdomen is red. The legs are blue. The body plumage is similar to that of the smaller Keel-billed Toucan, but the bill pattern is quite different, being diagonally divided into bright yellow and maroon.

Juvenile birds are sooty-black, and have duller plumage, particularly with respect to the bib, red border, and lower bill (mandible). They are fed by the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

Small flocks, usually consisting of 3-12 birds, move through the forest with an undulating flight, rarely travelling more than 100 m at a time.

Feeding / Diet

This species is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, but will also take insects, lizards, bird eggs, and other small prey. Flocks will follow Keel-billed Toucans to exploit their sources of food.

Call / Vocalization

The call of the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan is a yelping yo-YIP, a-yip, a-yip, or a Dios te dé, Dios te dé. It is given to maintain contact as the flock travels in "follow-my-leader" style through the trees, but also in chorus at the evening roosts.

Pet Potential

Also when pulled from the nest hand fed as babies they can eventually make pets. They do however require spacious cages to hop back and forth from because of their active nature, and require toys in their cage to prevent boredom. Their high fruit diet and sensitivity to hemochromotosis (iron storage disease) make them difficult for the novice keeper to maintain. Also they fling their fruit so the potential owner should be prepared to clean up dried fruit. They are expensive birds to maintain. This is one of the louder toucans and can be noisy. While not as noisy as a cockatoo or macaw, it does have a sort of a whistle noise that can be annoying to some.

Source: Wikipedia

*NOTE: This toucan will like all South American foliage, but I have included a couple of items that aren't listed in the game as being from South America. Since Honduras is coastal, I have included the desert palm (in addition to the llama palm). Honduras also has mangrove forests, so I have made the mangrove the preferred foliage for this bird.

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Additional info:

gcSwainsonToucan.ztd                    uca: 6CFBC026 dated 20 September 2009

Results From Configuration Checking:

6CFBC026.uca date: Sun Sep 20 18:48:02 2009
No Errors or Warnings to show.
Animal Type: 6CFBC026

Swainson's Toucan

The Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), also known as Sulfur-breasted
Toucan or Rainbow-billed Toucan, is a colorful South American bird with a
large bill. It is the national bird of Belize.
    (plus 13 other paragraphs)

Animal Characteristics:

Habitat: Rainforest; Location: South America
Minimum happiness needed for chance of breeding: 90.
Animal can swim in water terrain.
Animal can climb cliffs.

Exhibit Preferences:

Foliage:
Ulmo Tree, Palm Tree, Mangrove Tree, Llala Palm Tree, Rainforest Fern
Kapok Tree, Thouarsus Cycad Tree (DD), Fern Bush (DD), Leptocycas Tree (DD)
Williamsonia Tree (DD), Fallen Rainforest Tree (ES), Rainforest Stump (ES)
Rafflesia (ES), Giant Ficus Tree (ES), Durian Tree (ES)

Rocks:
Stone Ruins, Rainforest Rock - Formation, Small Ocean Floor Rock (MM)
Mossy Rainforest Rock (ES), Limestone Rock (ES)

Other specifically liked items:
Waterfall Rock - Formation

Exhibit Construction:

Number of animals allowed per exhibit: 2-20 with 5 squares for each adult.

Exhibit size (for 2 adults): 10 grid squares

Terrain (for exhibit with 10 grid squares):
4 Rainforest Floor, 1 Sand, 1 Dirt, 2 Grass, 1 Gray Stone, 1 Fresh Water

Foliage (for exhibit with 10 grid squares):
2 grid squares should contain foliage.
Foliage that would give the most happiness: Mangrove Tree
Since this is a small plant, greatest happiness will occur
if each of the 2 grid squares contains 4 of this plant.

Rocks (for exhibit with 10 grid squares):
1 Small Ocean Floor Rock (MM), which is its most liked rock.