What Does a Toucan Eat?

toucan

The toucan is a colorful tropical bird that is easily recognizable by its large bill.

While its diet consists mostly of fruits, the toucan will also eat eggs, insects, and small reptiles.

Let’s take a closer look at what toucans eat and how their diet affects their health.

Fruits: A Bulk of the Diet

Toucan eating papaya, what do Toucans eat?
Toucan eating papaya

Toucans are frugivores, which means that they predominantly eat fruit.

More specifically, they eat the soft parts of fruits such as the fleshy pulp and juice.

While most of the fruit that toucans consume is wild-grown, they will also eat fruits that are cultivated by humans.

Some of the most popular fruits in a toucan’s diet include mangoes, bananas, papayas, and guavas.

Insects and Small Reptiles: For Protein

In addition to fruit, toucans also eat insects and small reptiles.

While these make up a smaller portion of their diet, they are important for providing the protein and essential nutrients that toucans need to stay healthy.

Crickets, grasshoppers, termites, and beetles are some of the insects that toucans eat.

As for reptiles, toucans typically eat lizards and snakes.

Eggs: A Rare Treat

Occasionally, toucans will also eat eggs, if the stars align. Usually, these eggs belong to other birds such as hens or parrots.

While eggs are a good source of protein, they are not a necessary part of a toucan’s diet since they already get enough protein from eating fruit and insects.

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