Without Proportion
 Without Proportion 

Chestnut-mandibled toucan at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca, Costa Rica

wiki: The colorful, giant bill, which in some large species measure more than half the length of the body, is the hallmark of toucans. Despite its size it is very light, being composed of bone struts with little solid material between them. The bill has forward-facing serrations resembling teeth, which historically led naturalists to believe that toucans captured fish and were primarily carnivorous, but today we know that they eat mostly fruit. Why the bill is so large and brightly colored is still debated and may be complex. As there is no sexual dimorphism in coloration it is unlikely to be a sexual signal; It does aid in their feeding behavior (as they sit in one spot and reach for all fruit in range, thereby reducing energy expenditure). It has also been theorised that the bill may intimidate smaller birds, so that the toucan may plunder nests undisturbed. Also, the beak allows the bird to reach deep into treeholes to access food unavailable to other birds, and also to depredate suspended nests built by smaller birds.
Canon EOS 10D: 200mm (320mm) f/4.5 1/400" ISO 400 Capture time: 2008-03-25 12:10:20
Great colors and great explanation!

Posted by Joaquin Arias on July 23, 2008 at 12:58 AM




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