Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'common' (Stotz et al. 1996). The species is very common in French Guiana, where the national population is estimated at over 500,000 mature individuals (Thiollay 1994, O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020). Likewise in Suriname, the species is very common in both primary and selectively logged forest (O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
Trend justification
The population trend has not been assessed directly. It may however vary locally; in parts of the range where large tracts of forests remain (e.g. in Suriname) the population may be stable (O. Ottema in litt. 2020), while declines may be faster in the southeastern part of the range where logging is more prevalent (see Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Moreover, in parts of the range the species is reportedly becoming scarce, likely as a consequence of trapping pressure (S. Bruslund in litt. 2022). Overall, due to forest loss, and the reports of the species becoming rarer as a consequence of hunting and trapping, the population is inferred to be in continuing decline. Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 9% over three generations (19.9 years; Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). As the species is not solely restricted to forest, but also occurs in a variety of open and converted habitats (del Hoyo et al. 2020), habitat loss is unlikely to drive a significant population decline. The impact of hunting and trapping on the population size has not been quantified. Tentatively, population declines are here placed in the band 1-19% over three generations, but an accurate quantification of the population trend is required.
Ramphastos tucanus has a wide from eastern Venezuela through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, east of the Rio Negro in northeast Brazil and also south of the Amazon in northern Pará and Maranhão states.
The species occurs in lowland tropical forest, especially along old riverbeds, in late-stage successional forest and mature forest near water. It also forages in secondary forest, on edges, in clearings, forest patches, pasture trees, plantations, gardens or mangroves (del Hoyo et al. 2002, 2020). It feeds on a diverse variety of fruits, flowers and nectar, beetles, caterpillars, cicadas, termites, lizards, bird eggs and birds, foraging in the canopy singly, in pairs or small groups (del Hoyo et al. 2002). It lays two to three eggs in a deep natural cavity in a tree at 3-20 m height. The home range of a group is large, and birds may move large distances in search of fruit (del Hoyo et al. 2002). Some seasonal movement has been observed between interior forests and coastal forests in French Guiana (Thiollay 2005, O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020).
The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in the Amazon basin, as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network (Soares-Filho et al. 2006, Bird et al. 2011). Changes to the Brazilian Forest Code reduced the percentage of land a private landowner is legally required to maintain as forest and included an amnesty for landowners who deforested before July 2008 (Bird et al. 2011). Gold mining operations may represent a further threat to the species and its habitat (O. Ottema in litt. 2020). Nevertheless, large tracts of forests within the range, e.g. in Suriname, are still in pristine conditions and currently not under imminent threat (O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
The species is also suffering from hunting pressure and from trapping for the pet trade (del Hoyo et al. 2002, 2020). In French Guiana, it is heavily hunted during seasonal movements into the densely populated coastal areas; however, hunting pressure appears to be reducing in recent years (Tostain et al. 1992, Thiollay 2005, O. Claessens and V. Pelletier in litt. 2020). The species is trapped for trade and large numbers are exported in particular to Asia, which has caused the species to become scarce in parts of its range (S. Bruslund in litt. 2022).
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. The species occurs in several large protected areas, including Canaima National Park (Venezuela), Central Suriname Nature Reserve (Suriname) and Parc Amazonien de Guyane (French Guiana).
Conservation and Research Actions Proposed
Quantify the population size. Quantify the impact of hunting and trapping on the population size. Monitor the population trend. Monitor levels of hunting and trapping. Monitor habitat loss. Expand the protected area network to effectively protect key sites. Effectively manage protected areas, utilising emerging opportunities to finance protected area management with the joint aims of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing biodiversity conservation. Limit trapping. Raise awareness for the species with the aim of reducing hunting and trapping pressure. Incentivise conservation on private lands through expanding market pressures for sound land management and preventing forest clearance on lands unsuitable for agriculture (Soares-Filho et al. 2006).
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Bruslund, S., Claessens, O., Gilroy, J., Ottema, O., Pelletier, V., Sharpe, C.J., Symes, A. & Taylor, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-billed Toucan Ramphastos tucanus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-billed-toucan-ramphastos-tucanus on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.