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What is so special about the toucan's beak? |
Birds
Have you ever seen a toucan on TV or in a book? Their distinctive beak makes them pretty hard to miss! But does this large and colorful appendage serve a special purpose?
There have been a variety of theories as to why the toucan has such a large and colorful beak — it used to be thought the toucan's beak helped it attract a mate, scare off predators, or help reach food — but research from as recently as summer 2009 shows there's one big purpose that nobody would have guessed: body temperature control!
A toucan's beak is full of blood vessels and, using special heat-sensing cameras, researchers were able to track how blood moved to different parts of the body depending on how warm or cool it was. When the temperature was warmer, like in the toucans' natural habitat, blood flow increased to the beak which helped cool down the body. Likewise, when the air became cooler, blood flow to the beak decreased so as much heat stayed in the toucan's body as possible!
Tou-can do!
What else do you know about toucans? Did you know that they are native to South America, particularly Brazil and Argentina, and that there are over 40 species? They range in size from 12 inches to over 24, and their beak can be up to one third of their body length — that's the longest ratio of any bird!
