What’s your must-see animal in Costa Rica? For many people, it is a toucan.

I don’t think I’d ever seen a toucan in person until I came to Costa Rica. Now, they’re so common to me, it feels like seeing a blue jay back in Washington. They’re pretty, but not worth divebombing for my camera to get a picture, lol. 

However, for many of you, I know that seeing toucans is still a super thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience. So I’ve decided to share a few cool facts about toucans in Costa Rica with you here. Let’s dive in!

Cool Facts About Toucans

Toucans are pretty interesting birds. Scientists are unsure why they have such a large bill, though the serrated edge is handy for cutting up fruit. 

Counterintuitively, the bright colors of their bills also seem to help with camouflage. I guess because they’re trying to blend in with the tropical flowers, lol. 

Curious about some interesting facts about toucans? I have 13 of them for you here!

1. Unsurprisingly, toucans have the biggest bills of any bird in proportion to their body size.
2. Those gigantic bills? They’re soft, so toucans can’t fight or dig with them very well.
3. Male and female toucans look the same. In many species of birds, the males are prettier.
4. Toucans live an average lifespan of 20 years.
5. Toucan (chicks) babies are born blind.
6. Toucan chicks are not born with huge beaks. They develop over time. 
7. Toucans are related to woodpeckers.
8. Toucans live in hollowed-out trees that usually were hollowed out by a woodpecker. (Thanks cuz!)
9. With that big bill, it takes a lot of effort for toucans to fly, so they tend to sit around in trees instead.
10. The toucan’s most dangerous predators are jaguars, snakes, and people.
11. Toucans eat fruit primarily, but will also eat eggs of other birds and small animals like turtles and frogs. 
12. Toucans don’t drink much water because they get what they need from the fruit they eat.
13. Toucans plant and fertilize new flora through the fruit seeds in their droppings. 

Types of Toucans in Costa Rica

How many types of toucans are there? In the world, there are about 40 different species of toucans. Costa Rica is home to 6 types of toucans. These are:

• Chestnut-mandibled toucan (also called black-mandibled toucan)
• Keel-billed toucan (also called rainbow-billed toucans)
• Fiery-billed aracari
• Collared aracari
• Emerald Toucanet
• Yellow-eared Toucanet

By far, the most common one that I’ve seen here in the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area is the chestnut-mandibled toucan. 

The next most common one I’ve seen in the wild is the fiery-billed aracari. This is a smaller version of a toucan with a fiery orangish-red bill. The collared aracari looks mostly the same except that the colors are far more muted. It is only seen on the Caribbean side so I’ve never seen one. 

I’ve also seen the rainbow-billed toucans in animal sanctuaries. This one definitely sports the most colorful bill by far. I used a photo of this toucan for my toucan photo jewelry. 

I’ve never seen either of the toucanets either. The emerald toucanet loves to live at higher elevations such as the cloud forests in Monteverde. The yellow-eared toucanet is more secretive and lives on the Caribbean side. 

Where to See Toucans in Costa Rica

In my experience, toucans are a common sight in Costa Rica. They tend to call out to one another, making them easy to spot even when you’re out driving around. 

However, you do have to be driving in the right places. I’ve seen scarlet macaws flying over Quepos, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a toucan in the city (though I’ve spotted a couple from some of the quieter villas in Manuel Antonio). We have seen lots of them, however, when we’re out hiking or driving in the jungle/countryside. 

In the Wild

Where you are exploring will determine which type of toucan you see. As I said, here in the Central Pacific, it isn’t too difficult to spot chestnut-mandibled toucans and fiery-billed aracaris. 

The keel-billed toucan can be spotted in Manuel Antonio, Arenal, Monteverde, Bijagua, Turrialba, Tortuguero, and Puerto Viejo.

As mentioned, check out the cloud forest of Monteverde to get a glimpse of the emerald toucanet. And you’ll have to tromp carefully through the foothills of the Caribbean to (hopefully) spot a yellow-eared toucanet. 

In Wildlife Sanctuaries

There are no zoos in Costa Rica, but there are a number of wildlife refuges and sanctuaries. Most function on donations and the proceeds from charging tourists to come and see their animals. 

There are probably a few bad apples but, in general, the sanctuaries are run by hard-working people who truly have a love for animals. They rescue them from people who try to keep them as pets, when they are injured, or as babies who have lost their mothers before they can survive on their own. 

Every attempt is made to rehabilitate the animals and release them back into the wild. The only ones who stay are the ones who wouldn’t survive on their own. 

I know that for most of you, it is ideal to spot toucans in the wild. The birds aren’t tied to the trees, though so it might not happen. Visiting a wildlife sanctuary is a surefire way to see these birds if it is your dream. Your visit also supports the work of the sanctuary. 

I’m sure there are more places to see toucans in Costa Rica, but here are the sanctuaries where I have personally seen them. That being said, the animals in residence at any sanctuary change as the animals are released back into the wild or reach the end of their lives. If toucans are a must-see for you, I’d suggest calling or emailing to make sure they currently have some.

Las Pumas Wildlife Rescue Center

Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Ready to See Toucans in Costa Rica?

All this being said, these birds are really cool to see and learning cool facts about toucans is pretty fun. I can actually hear them calling in the distance to one another as I write this conclusion. 

It’s such an honor to witness the variety and beauty of the living creatures that God placed on this planet. We might not know why the toucan has such a giant bill, but Somebody out there does!

Want to dress up your outfit with the brilliant colors of the toucan? Check out my toucan souvenirs here!