The plate-billed mountain toucan (Andigena laminirostris) is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae. It is native to the west slope of Ecuador and extreme southern Colombia, where it lives in the high-altitude humid mountain forests of the Andes.
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucans have a large laterally compressed bill, the front half of which is black and the back half is mostly red with a raised yellow plate on the upper mandible, a unique feature for which the bird was named. They have a reddish brown iris and a bare ocular area that is yellow below and turquoise green above. The crown and nape are black and the rest of the upper parts are bronzy olive. The side of the neck and underparts are blue gray with a yellow patch on the flanks which is partially covered by the wings. There is a yellow rump patch, and its tail is black with chestnut tips. The crissum (area around the vent) is bright red, and the thighs are brownish maroon.
The plate-billed mountain toucan is about 42 to 53 centimeters (16.5 to 21 inches) in length, with a relatively lightweight bill up to 10 centimeters long. The average male weighs about 314 grams (11.1 ounces) and the female about 303 grams (10.7 ounces). It is zygodactylous, with two toes facing forward and two pointing back.
Vocalizationsedit
This is the most vocal of the mountain toucans, and the sexes often duet. The male makes a loud, repeating "tryyyyyyyk" sound and the female makes a drier "t't't't't't't't" noise. The bird utters rattles and clicks loud enough to be heard from over a kilometer away.
Distribution and habitatedit
Plate-billed mountain toucans are found in the western foothills of the Andes of western Ecuador and far southwestern Colombia. In Colombia, they are found from Pita Canyon (Narino) in southwestern Colombia and south to the northwestern border of Morona-Santiago Province, in Ecuador. Plate-billed mountain toucans inhabit the humid forest and edges of the temperate forest of the lateral slope of the Andes Mountains. The humid forest features abundant epiphytes, bromeliads and mosses. These forests receive an average of 14 feet of rainfall per year and the canopy ranges from 6 to 10 meters high. Their altitudinal range is between 1600 and 2600 meters above sea level, and has been observed several times at 3100 meters elevation in Imbabura (Ecuador). Because of its altitudinal range, plate-billed mountain toucans share their ecological niche with the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Their estimated life area is 14300 km2.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
Breedingedit
The breeding season extends from March to October, peaking in May through August. The bird nests in tree cavities up to 30 meters above the ground. The clutch contains 2 or 3 white eggs. The eggs are incubated for about 16 days and the young fledge at 46 to 60 days. Once the young depart, the pair may rear a second brood.
Food and feedingedit
The plate-billed mountain toucan feeds mainly on fruit, and occasionally eats insects and eggs as well. It disperses the seeds of plants such as the mountain understory shrub Faramea affinis[2] and the palmPrestoea acuminata.[3] There has been a report of the bird eating a caecilian (Caecilia sp.)[4]
Statusedit
While it is still a fairly common species, the Plate-billed mountain toucan is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN and is in decline because of habitat being lost to deforestation. It is also poached for the trade in exotic birds.[1] The plate-billed mountain toucan is the flagship bird of the La Planada Nature Reserve in Colombia.[5]
Referencesedit
BirdLife International (2008). «'Andigena laminirostris'». Lista Roja de especies amenazadas de la UICN 2010.4 (en inglés). Consultado el 19 de noviembre de 2010
Ridgely, Robert S. and Paul J. Greenfield (2001) "The Birds of Ecuador" Vol. II, Cornell University Press.
Footnotesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Andigena laminirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22682050A92929574. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682050A92929574.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Restrepo, C. and A. Vargas. (1999). Seeds and seedlings of two neotropical montane understory shrubs respond differently to anthropogenic edges and treefall gaps. Oecologia 119(3) 419-26.
^Gamba-Trimiño, C., et al. (2011). Demography of the clonal palm Prestoea acuminata in the Colombian Andes: sustainable household extraction of palm hearts. Tropical Conservation Science 4(4) 386-404.
^Solano-Ugalde, A. (2011). The Plate-billed Mountain Toucan (Andigena laminirostris) feeding on a Caecilia spp (Gymnophiona: Amphibia). Boletín SAO 20(2) 43-5.
^Vallejo, M. I., et al. (2004). La Planada forest dynamics plot, Colombia. Tropical Forest Diversity and Dynamism: Findings from a large scale plot network.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andigena laminirostris.
plate, billed, mountain, toucan, plate, billed, mountain, toucan, andigena, laminirostris, species, bird, family, ramphastidae, native, west, slope, ecuador, extreme, southern, colombia, where, lives, high, altitude, humid, mountain, forests, andes, northweste. The plate billed mountain toucan Andigena laminirostris is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae It is native to the west slope of Ecuador and extreme southern Colombia where it lives in the high altitude humid mountain forests of the Andes Plate billed mountain toucanIn northwestern EcuadorConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PiciformesFamily RamphastidaeGenus AndigenaSpecies A laminirostrisBinomial nameAndigena laminirostrisGould 1851SynonymsAndigena lamnirostrisCommon names of the species include laminated hill toucan laminated mountain toucan and plain billed mountain toucan Contents 1 Description 1 1 Vocalizations 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behaviour and ecology 3 1 Breeding 3 2 Food and feeding 4 Status 5 References 5 1 Footnotes 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp Northwestern EcuadorPlate billed Mountain Toucans have a large laterally compressed bill the front half of which is black and the back half is mostly red with a raised yellow plate on the upper mandible a unique feature for which the bird was named They have a reddish brown iris and a bare ocular area that is yellow below and turquoise green above The crown and nape are black and the rest of the upper parts are bronzy olive The side of the neck and underparts are blue gray with a yellow patch on the flanks which is partially covered by the wings There is a yellow rump patch and its tail is black with chestnut tips The crissum area around the vent is bright red and the thighs are brownish maroon The plate billed mountain toucan is about 42 to 53 centimeters 16 5 to 21 inches in length with a relatively lightweight bill up to 10 centimeters long The average male weighs about 314 grams 11 1 ounces and the female about 303 grams 10 7 ounces It is zygodactylous with two toes facing forward and two pointing back Vocalizations edit This is the most vocal of the mountain toucans and the sexes often duet The male makes a loud repeating tryyyyyyyk sound and the female makes a drier t t t t t t t t noise The bird utters rattles and clicks loud enough to be heard from over a kilometer away Distribution and habitat editPlate billed mountain toucans are found in the western foothills of the Andes of western Ecuador and far southwestern Colombia In Colombia they are found from Pita Canyon Narino in southwestern Colombia and south to the northwestern border of Morona Santiago Province in Ecuador Plate billed mountain toucans inhabit the humid forest and edges of the temperate forest of the lateral slope of the Andes Mountains The humid forest features abundant epiphytes bromeliads and mosses These forests receive an average of 14 feet of rainfall per year and the canopy ranges from 6 to 10 meters high Their altitudinal range is between 1600 and 2600 meters above sea level and has been observed several times at 3100 meters elevation in Imbabura Ecuador Because of its altitudinal range plate billed mountain toucans share their ecological niche with the Andean cock of the rock Their estimated life area is 14300 km2 Behaviour and ecology editBreeding edit The breeding season extends from March to October peaking in May through August The bird nests in tree cavities up to 30 meters above the ground The clutch contains 2 or 3 white eggs The eggs are incubated for about 16 days and the young fledge at 46 to 60 days Once the young depart the pair may rear a second brood Food and feeding edit The plate billed mountain toucan feeds mainly on fruit and occasionally eats insects and eggs as well It disperses the seeds of plants such as the mountain understory shrub Faramea affinis 2 and the palm Prestoea acuminata 3 There has been a report of the bird eating a caecilian Caecilia sp 4 Status editWhile it is still a fairly common species the Plate billed mountain toucan is considered Near Threatened by the IUCN and is in decline because of habitat being lost to deforestation It is also poached for the trade in exotic birds 1 The plate billed mountain toucan is the flagship bird of the La Planada Nature Reserve in Colombia 5 References editBirdLife International 2008 Andigena laminirostris Lista Roja de especies amenazadas de la UICN 2010 4 en ingles Consultado el 19 de noviembre de 2010 Ridgely Robert S and Paul J Greenfield 2001 The Birds of Ecuador Vol II Cornell University Press Footnotes edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Andigena laminirostris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22682050A92929574 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22682050A92929574 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Restrepo C and A Vargas 1999 Seeds and seedlings of two neotropical montane understory shrubs respond differently to anthropogenic edges and treefall gaps Oecologia 119 3 419 26 Gamba Trimino C et al 2011 Demography of the clonal palm Prestoea acuminata in the Colombian Andes sustainable household extraction of palm hearts Tropical Conservation Science 4 4 386 404 Solano Ugalde A 2011 The Plate billed Mountain Toucan Andigena laminirostris feeding on a Caecilia spp Gymnophiona Amphibia Boletin SAO 20 2 43 5 Vallejo M I et al 2004 La Planada forest dynamics plot Colombia Tropical Forest Diversity and Dynamism Findings from a large scale plot network External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andigena laminirostris Andigena ITIS Plate billed Mountain toucan Andigena laminirostris BirdLife International Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plate billed mountain toucan amp oldid 1137151411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
