What’s a Baby Toucan Called + 4 More Amazing Facts!

Baby toucans are some of the most mysterious birds on the planet. Did you know a toucan’s beak actually isn’t heavy? Or that there’s no official name for a group of baby toucans? Stick around to find out more amazing baby toucan facts and to see some adorable baby toucan photos!

#1: A Baby Toucan is Called a Fledgling!

Baby toucans are called fledglings. However, adult toucans and groups of toucans don’t have any other official names yet. 

Fledglings are born and within three weeks, they start flapping their wings and opening their eyes. They are born naked, but by the time they’re three months old will have all their feathers. Toucan babies venture away from the nest for the first time at around six weeks old. However, a fledgling will stay with its mother until it’s around 5 months old or it’s able to fly off on its own.

#2: Baby Toucans Flap their Wings Before they Open their Eyes

Toucan fledglings are born with their eyes closed. They are unable to open them until around 20 to 23 days old. However, while in the nest with their eyes sealed shut, they will start flapping their wings at around 17 to 19 days old. 

As adults, toucans are not the best fliers and often will glide with their wings or hop along to get to where they want to be. Baby toucans learn much from their mothers, but wing flapping is not one of them. They instinctively flap their wings, which helps strengthen their wing muscles to get them ready for flight!

#3: Toucan Fledglings Do Not Grow Into Their Bills

Toucan fledglings are not born with large beaks, their beaks actually don’t even fully develop until they’re 1 to 3 years old. It’s also often thought that their beaks are heavy but in fact they are lightweight because they are made of keratin and they have several small holes in them to make sure they are not too heavy for flight. 

Another misconception about toucans is that the bright colored beaks are for mating purposes. However, there’s no scientific evidence that suggests this is true. Instead, their brightly-colored beaks act as camouflage, which helps them blend into the vivid hues of the rainforest canopies of Central and South America.

#4: Baby Toucans are Social Creatures

Toucan fledglings are no stranger to social interaction. In fact, toucans live in group settings. Unlike many other species of birds, both the mother and father participate in their baby’s life. Mother toucans rear and raise their young while fathers often hunt and protect their family.

In their early years, baby toucans rely heavily on their parents to learn about independent life. For about five months, they observe and mimic their parents to build life skills. During this time, they will learn to hunt, find water, and fly. Parental modeling also shows baby toucans how to socialize.

One of the most important things they help the young bird learn is how to spot danger and how to avoid it. When a threat is near, toucans depend primarily on scaring prey off to protect themselves. This means most of the time, they can protect themselves by making loud noises or striking a tree with their beaks to scare off danger.

#5: Toco Toucans Have Seriously Large Beaks

Perhaps the most recognizable feature a toucan has is its large, vibrant beak. Toucans use this appendage to dig, search for food, and to pick up objects. Toco Toucan babies are the largest toucans on Earth, and their beaks are no exception.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alejandro Principato/Shutterstock.com