The collared aracari or collared araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela.
The collared aracari inhabits the interior and edges of evergreen primary forest and mature secondary forest and also coffee, cacao, and fruit plantations. In the semi-arid parts of northern Colombia and Venezuela it also occurs in gallery forest. In elevation it is found from sea level to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Like other toucans, the collared aracari is brightly marked and has a large bill. Adults are 38 to 41 cm (15 to 16 in) long and weigh 175 to 250 g (6.2 to 8.8 oz). Males and females have the same coloration of the bill and plumage but the female's bill is shorter than the male's. The three subspecies' bills are alike. The adult's bill has a narrow vertical white line at its base. Its maxilla is buffy white darkening to dull reddish brown at its base. Its tip and culmen are black. The maxilla has black and yellowish white notches. The bill's mandible is black. Adults of the nominate subspecies have mostly glossy black upperparts with a narrow cinnamon rufous collar at the base of the nape and bright red lower back, rump, and uppertail coverts. Their head, throat, and uppermost breast are greenish black. Their lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts are yellow. The breast has a variable red wash and a black spot in its center; the upper belly is crossed by a narrow red and black band. Their thighs are cinnamon to rufous. Juvenile collared aracaris are much duller than adults, with a sooty-black head and chest and brownish olive upperparts. The red rump and yellow underparts are paler, and the breast spot, belly band, and bill pattern are indistinct.
Subspecies P. t. erythrozonus is similar to the nominate but smaller and has a much smaller breast spot or none at all. P. t. nuchalis is also similar to the nominate, but its breast spot is usually larger and the white basal line on the bill is wider.
The most common call is described as "a high, sharp, squeaky, note, such as seek, pseek, pink or penk, or a two-parted pi-cheet or squi-zeek." They also make a "purr" and an "“aggressive, rasping grhhrr". A rattle call "bddddddt" may actually be non-vocal. Collared aracari's wings make an audible whir during flight.
Collared aracaris typically travel in groups of about six to 15 individuals that sometimes include other toucan species. They also roost communally; up to seven may occupy a cavity overnight.
The collared aracari's diet is mostly fruit but it also feeds on large insects, the eggs and nestlings of other birds, and other small vertebrates. It mostly forages from the forest's mid level to the canopy but will feed on fruits in the understory. They glean fruit by stretching from a perch, bending, and even hanging upside down. They regurgitate large fruit seeds which often remain viable.
%2030.jpg)
The collared aracari's breeding season is from January to May in most of its range. It nests in tree cavities, usually those excavated by large woodpeckers but also natural ones. They may enlarge the cavity, which can be up to 30 m (98 ft) above the ground. The clutch size is usually three eggs but can be as large as five. The incubation period is 16 to 17 days and both parents incubate. Fledging occurs 26 to 30 days after hatch. The parents and often up to three other adults provision the nestlings. They are fed mostly with insects when young.
The IUCN has assessed the collared aracari as being of Least Concern. It has an extremely large range but an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. "Although it tolerates secondary forest, it nonetheless is very susceptible to deforestation" and is hunted by indigenous peoples.
%2010-gigapixel-scale-1_4x.jpg){kind=tracking}
The Collared Aracari is a member of the toucan family, Ramphastidae, known for its striking appearance and large bill. This near-passerine bird exhibits a vibrant plumage and can be observed in lengths ranging from 38 to 41 cm, with a weight between 175 to 250 grams. Both sexes share similar coloration, but the female's bill is notably shorter than the male's.
Adult Collared Aracaris are characterized by their glossy black upperparts and a distinctive cinnamon rufous collar at the nape's base. Their lower back, rump, and uppertail coverts shine in bright red, while their underparts are primarily yellow with a central black spot and a red wash over the breast. The bill is a striking feature, with a vertical white line at its base, a buffy white maxilla darkening towards the base, and a black tip and culmen. Juveniles are duller, with a sooty-black head and chest and brownish olive upperparts.
%2020-gigapixel-scale-1_4x.jpg){kind=tracking}
The Collared Aracari favors the interiors and edges of evergreen primary forests, mature secondary forests, and plantations of coffee, cacao, and fruit. It can also be found in semi-arid regions within gallery forests.
Three subspecies of the Collared Aracari are distributed across various regions:
P. t. torquatus ranges from east-central Mexico through Central America to northwestern Colombia.
P. t. erythrozonus inhabits southeastern Mexico, including the Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, and northern Guatemala.
P. t. nuchalis is found in northern Colombia and Venezuela.
Behaviour
Collared Aracaris are social birds, often seen in groups of six to fifteen, sometimes including other toucan species. They exhibit communal roosting habits, with several individuals sharing a cavity overnight.
