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Keel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Silhouette: Gabriela Palomo-Munoz · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPiciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- FamilyRamphastidae (Toucans)
- GenusRamphastos (Large Toucans)
- SpeciesRamphastos sulfuratus (Keel-billed Toucan)
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
633 Verified sightings at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary From 2019 to 2026
46,014 In all 32 parks
February Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
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About the Keel-billed Toucan
The keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), also known as rainbow-billed toucan or sulphur-breasted toucan, is a species of toucan native to southern Mexico, Central America and the far northwest of South America, and is found in tropical forests. It is the national bird of Belize. It is an omnivorous forest bird that feeds on fruit, seeds, insects, invertebrates, lizards, snakes, and small birds and their eggs.
Including its bill, the length of the keel-billed toucan ranges from around 42 to 55 cm (17 to 22 in), while its wing length typically ranges from 189.4 to 208.4 mm (7.46 to 8.20 in). The bird typically weighs about 380–500 g (13–18 oz).
The large and brightly coloured bill averages around 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in), about one third of the bird's total length. The bill is mainly green with a red tip and orange sides. While the bill seems large and cumbersome, it is in fact a spongy, hollow bone covered in keratin, a very light and hard protein. It has been suggested that the bill colour may also help regulate body temperature, using the many blood vessels running through it.
The plumage of the keel-billed toucan is mainly black, with a yellow neck and chest... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Keel-billed Toucan in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | San Pedro Sula | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 3 | San José | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Keel-billed Toucan in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Keel-billed Toucan sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on a given day, based on 633 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 277 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Keel-billed Toucan in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?
February and April
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Keel-billed Toucan in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on a given day, against about 30% in August and October–December, the lowest months. Those are among Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary's driest months, with about 85 mm of rain a month against 300 mm in June.
What time of day is best to see a Keel-billed Toucan?
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Keel-billed Toucan sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary the best place to see a Keel-billed Toucan?
15th of 32
Of the 32 parks where we can rate Keel-billed Toucan sightings, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary ranks 15th at about 50%. The best odds are in Pico Bonito National Park (Honduras, about 80%), Tikal National Park (Guatemala, about 70%) and Soberanía National Park (Panama, about 70%). All parks ranked.
Where does the Keel-billed Toucan sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Keel-billed Toucan is recorded against all the birds logged in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (633 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
