Are These Baby Dinosaurs or Baby Toucans?

If any bird looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park, it’s the toucan. Birds are living dinosaurs, after all, and this species still looks like its prehistoric ancestors. Toucan chicks are especially similar to pterosaurs but are part of the Aves — or bird — family. That doesn’t mean they lack the same dino-sized traits, though. Here’s the scoop on why these toucan babies behave like they do.

Tiny But Mighty Toucans

When they hatch, toucan chicks are roughly the size of a chicken chick. An adult female can lay two to four eggs, and the incubation period is 16 to 20 days. Due to a shorter incubation than most birds, chicks are born slightly underdeveloped. The chicks in this video are seven weeks old and are still too young to fly. Toucans are also born blind and can remain in their nest for up to two months while they grow. Chicks start using their wings toward the end of the nesting period and usually take flight after 50 days.

In the wild, adult toucans continue to feed their young for up to four months. In this video, they are cared for by experts at Parrot Mountain. Toco toucans, like the one in this video, eat mainly fruit. Their preferred diet consists of tropical produce like guava, bananas, figs, papaya, and berries. In captivity, they’re fed this in addition to vegetables and occasionally pellets. This video shows off their most beautiful feature: Their beaks! The beaks of toco toucans like these can grow up to eight inches long. As birds mature, their beaks will take on the classic orange color associated with most toucans.

Toucans in Captivity

Toucans are kept in captivity for many reasons. However, keeping them as pets is rare due to their tendency to be aggressive. Rescue and conservation groups often care for the species in zoos or wildlife parks. Their mission is to educate the general public while caring for birds that may have needed help. Toucans are not endangered, but 11 out of 50 known species are threatened. Bird preservation, like Parrot Mountain in Tennessee, provides shelter and safety for toco toucans.