Flower eating by the Toco Toucan (Ramphastos Toco) in an anthropogenic landscape during the dry season

Abstract

Toucans rarely feed on plant parts other than ripe fleshy fruits. Here, I report observations of flower exploitation by Toco Toucans (Ramphastos toco), in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This toucan fed on the buds, floral tissues, whole flowers and nectar of seven plant species. I made the observations in a highly anthropogenic landscape, mostly at the height of the dry season, when the availability of ripe fleshy fruits declines in the area. The exploitation of flowers reported here is consistent with an opportunistic foraging habit in which toucans resort to eating flowers to obtain nutrients, energy, and water when ripe fleshy fruits are scarce.