Friday Feather Fact: The Toco Toucan’s enormous bill makes up 1/3 of its total body size, but only contributes to about 5% of the birds’ weight. A heavy bill would impair flight, so the inside of the toucan’s bill is mostly hollow, with a honeycomb-like structure for support. The bill also works as a portable air conditioner, with a network of blood vessels that help disperse excess body heat in the warm tropics. | Sylvan Heights Bird Park

The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) is undoubtedly one of the most iconic birds in South America. Native to the tropical forests of Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, it is immediately distinguished by its huge orange beak, which can measure up to 20 cm, almost a third of the total length of its body! The species is classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN because it is still widely distributed in its native range. However, deforestation and habitat fragmentation can locally reduce its p