Pale-mandibled aracari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pale-mandibled aracari |
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| At Mindo cloud forest, Ecuador | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Ramphastidae |
| Genus: | Pteroglossus |
| Species: |
P. erythropygius
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| Binomial name | |
| Pteroglossus erythropygius Gould, 1843
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| Synonyms | |
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The pale-mandibled aracari (pronounced: ah-rah-SAH-ree), also known as the pale-billed aracari, is a colorful bird from the toucan family. Its scientific name is Pteroglossus erythropygius. These birds are found in the forests of Ecuador and Peru. They are known for their bright feathers and unique bills.
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About the Pale-mandibled Aracari
Scientists who study birds sometimes have different ideas about how to classify them. Some groups, like the International Ornithological Committee, believe the pale-mandibled aracari is its own unique species. Other groups, like the American Ornithological Society, think it's a type of collared aracari. This bird is considered "monotypic," which means it doesn't have any subspecies of its own.
What Does It Look Like?
The pale-mandibled aracari is about 40.5 to 43 centimeters (16 to 17 inches) long. This includes its long bill, which is about 11.5 to 12.5 centimeters (4.5 to 5 inches) long. These birds weigh between 175 and 250 grams (6 to 9 ounces).
Both male and female aracaris have the same colors on their feathers and bills. However, the female's bill is a bit shorter than the male's.
Their bill has a thin white line at its base. The top part of the bill is creamy yellow with a black stripe along the bottom edge. The bottom part of the bill is also creamy yellow, but it has a black tip.
Most of their upper body is shiny black. Their lower back, rump, and the feathers covering their tail are bright red. Their head, throat, and upper chest are a greenish-black color. The lower chest, belly, and the feathers under their tail are yellow. Their chest often has some red color and a black spot in the middle. A thin red and black band crosses their upper belly. Their upper legs are brown.
Young aracaris look a bit different from adults. They are not as bright, with a sooty-black head and chest. Their upper body is brownish-olive. The red on their rump and the yellow on their belly are paler. The spot on their chest, the band on their belly, and the pattern on their bill are not as clear.
Where Do They Live?
The pale-mandibled aracari lives in northwestern Ecuador, starting from the Esmeraldas Province, and going south into Peru's Department of Tumbes.
They like to live inside and on the edges of evergreen forests that have not been cut down much (called primary forest). They also live in older forests that are growing back (called secondary forest). You can also find them in plantations where coffee, cacao, and fruit are grown.
How Do They Behave?
Social Life
Pale-mandibled aracaris usually travel in groups of about six to eight birds, or sometimes even more. They might even join up with other types of toucans. At night, they often sleep together in tree holes. Up to seven aracaris can share one tree cavity for sleeping!
What Do They Eat?
These birds mostly eat fruit. But they also enjoy large insects, the eggs and baby birds from other nests, and other small animals. They usually look for food from the middle part of the forest up to the very tops of the trees. However, they will also eat fruits found closer to the ground.
They pick fruit by stretching from a branch, bending over, or even hanging upside down. They often spit out large fruit seeds, which can then grow into new plants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The pale-mandibled aracari's breeding season is from December to May. They make their nests in holes in trees. These holes are usually made by large woodpeckers, but they can also be natural holes. The aracaris might make the hole bigger if they need to. Their nests can be as high as 30 meters (98 feet) above the ground.
A female aracari usually lays three eggs, but sometimes she can lay up to five. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs for about 16 to 17 days until they hatch. The baby birds stay in the nest for 26 to 30 days after they hatch.
Both parents, and sometimes up to three other adult aracaris, help feed the baby birds. When they are very young, the nestlings are mostly fed insects.
Their Call
The pale-mandibled aracari has a special call. It's described as a "loud, attention-grabbing, high-pitched, and squeaky 'ksisik' or 'ksiyik!'"
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the pale-mandibled aracari as a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. However, their total population size is not known, and it is thought to be getting smaller.
Even though no direct threats have been found, these birds are very sensitive to deforestation, which is when forests are cut down. While they can live in forests that are growing back, they still need healthy forests to survive.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Arasarí piquipálido para niños
 | Delilah Pierce |
 | Gordon Parks |
 | Augusta Savage |
 | Charles Ethan Porter |
