The toucan lives in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America. Description: Its large beak is full of a combination of bright colors like blue, yellow, red, and orange. The body is mostly black a few other colors on it like red, yellow, and orange The legs and toes of the toucan are blue. Physical Adaptations: These bright colors on the beak and body may be use to attract the toucan's mates. The large beak also has a narrow tongue use for eating small fruits and insects off trees. Because of its large beak and body form, the toucan is a poor flier and spends most of its time in hollow trees. The toucan's bill is useful as a feeding tool. The birds use them to reach fruit on branches that are too small to support their weight, and also to skin their fruit they have picked. Their bright colors actually provide good camouflage in the dappled light of the rain forest canopy. Toucan beaks are really huge but they are very light. They are made of keratin and is full of air holes to make it very light. The beak provides a means of preening feathers and defending against smaller predators. Because of the large beaks, relatively small bodies and shorter wings, toucans fly poorly. Toucans have strong legs and toes. Of their four toes on each foot, the first and fourth are backwards, so that two toes wrap around the branches from each direction. This sure grip allows the birds to walk and hop along branches in the canopy without having to rely on their wings as much. Behavioral Adaptations: While spending most of their time in hollow trees, the toucans live in small flocks within which they mate. They build their nest in hollow trees. In the nest the female lays two to four white eggs. After the eggs hatch, both parents will care for the young for about 8 weeks. Toucans live in small flocks of about six birds. They are extremely noisy birds. Toucans make noises or sing to communicate with other toucans or attract mates. Toucans live in holes in trees, where they tuck their bright beaks under their wings and draw up their tail feathers to cover the colors. This allows the toucan to blend into the dark hole and potentially avoid predators. Diet: The toucan eats small fruits , bird eggs, rodents, and insects. It is an omnivore which means it eats both meat and plants. Learned Behaviors: Young birds learn to recognize predators by observing the behavior of other birds. Instincts: Baby toucans are born knowing how to peck. Baby toucans are born knowing how to sing or make noises. Toucans are born knowing where and how to build a nest.