One of the most attractive birds inhabiting the rainforest in South America is the toucan. The bird can be recognized by anyone due to its large and out-of-proportion bill, and of course its vibrant feathers.

The bill of a toucan is a mammoth seven and half inches long. Although the scientists have not been able to figure why the toucan has such a large bill, there are opinions that it might be to attract a mate. The toucan has a mating ritualwhere both genders tend to toss fruits at each other. So, this may be a correct theory.

However, the bill also works as a protective aid, though because of its structure, it is useless as a fighting weapon. So, it is quite possible that the size of the bill actually frightens away potential predators.

Usually toucans live a flock. A flock will not be made up of more than 6 birds. While its bright plumage affords a sort of camouflage in the rainforests, the bird is known to be raucous and noisy. Hence, the camouflage does not work very well!

These large billed bird nest in holes in trees, and lay between 2 and 4 eggs every year. The male and female take turns in caring for the young chicks. The strangest part is that the chicks do not have the characteristic bill when they are born. The bill gradually grows and the chicks become big. It can take a few months time for the bill to attain its full size.

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