Birds · Piciformes · Ramphastidae

Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan

Andigena hypoglauca

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The grey-breasted mountain toucan is a high-altitude toucan, blue-grey with a black crown and a two-toned yellow and black bill. It lives in the cloud forests of the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, always above two thousand metres, and is one of the most sought-after species by birdwatchers in those ranges. Deforestation of the highland forests is its main threat.

Weight

280 g – 370 g

Size

46 cm – 48 cm

Lifespan

18 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

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Fun facts

It is one of the highest-living toucans in the world: it is found above 3,000 metres, among mist-shrouded forests and temperatures that drop below ten degrees.
Its enormous bill works as a radiator: in a cold environment it can reduce the blood flow so as not to lose heat, the opposite of what lowland toucans do to cool down.
It is an important disperser of large seeds in the Andean cloud forest, and its disappearance from a stand translates into poorer regeneration of several tree species.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Montane cloud forest of the Andes, between 2,100 and 3,400 metres
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 16 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 3 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andigena_hypoglauca