Smallest of the Aracaris, the Green is one of several toucan species that are dimorphic. The males have a black head and neck, whereas the females, as in this photo, have a brown head and neck. Green Aracaris are found across the northern part of South America from Colombia east of the Andes to Surinam and south to the Amazon River. They are cavity nesters, occupying abandoned woodpecker nests and other small tree hollows. They lay 3-5 elliptical eggs and the incubation lasts 16 days, as it does for all other toucans. Green Aracaris were first bred in captivity by Jerry Jennings in 1980 and are today the most commonly bred of all the toucans in captivity. They are listed on CITES Appendix II and thus can no longer be imported under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992. They are very friendly birds and make excellent pets if handfed as babies. Courtesy of Emerald Forest Bird Gardens.

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