9781422275023

nature’s background the colors appear more subdued and blend in well with each bird’s surroundings. Tropical Colors Toucans are large, colorful birds that inhabit the dense tropical forests of South America, where there are patches of brightly colored flowers and fruits and where the sunlight filtering through the many shades of green in the leaf canopy creates a variety of lighting effects. With its multicolored plumage the toucan can easily

Few birds possess a larger or more striking bill than the saddle-billed stork from East Africa. Its colors complement the black-and-white plumage of the bird and provide attraction when pairs are displaying.

The large and colorful bill of the toco toucan is used in display. More important, it is used on a daily basis when feeding; its length allows the bird to obtain fruits and seeds otherwise out of reach.

Like most other members of its family, this Sulawesi hornbill has a large protuberance, or casque, on the top of its bill. Although hard and rigid, the casque is honeycombed and air-filled inside; it helps resonate the bird’s loud calls.

11