Published on Saturday, February 8, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services

The yellow-throated toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) with a genetic-based melanin deficiency is known as the "white toucan" in Costa Rica. 

The common yellow-throated toucan has mostly black plumage with a maroon tint on the hindneck and upper back, along with white upper tail coverts. Its face, throat, and upper breast are bright yellow, with white and crimson bands below the breast. The vent and undertail coverts are bright red. 

However, in rare specimens seen in Costa Rica, melanin is almost entirely absent, while carotenoids (yellow, orange, and red) remain unaffected. This suggests the condition is due to a melanin mutation, according to Birds of the World, a global alliance of nature organizations documenting bird species' natural history. 

Some wing feathers (tertials) and areas on the rump appear very light gray, which can be mistaken for white plumage from a distance, indicating strong dilution. The feet are blue-gray, meaning they contain melanin, but the claws contain very little, which is not typical of dilution. 

On the bill, the remaining black pigment is irregularly distributed, suggesting a mechanism other than dilution, such as progressive graying, which also affects skin pigmentation. However, since no normal black feathers are present, progressive graying is unlikely to be the cause of this coloration. 

Recently, a specimen of the rare white toucan was spotted at El Viejo del Monte farm in Guápiles Canton, Limón Province.

The exotic bird, whether with light gray plumage or its natural dark plumage, primarily inhabits lowland evergreen primary forests. It can also be found in gallery forests, older secondary forests, well-treed parks, and gardens. 

Toucans avoid dry forests and large open areas but can be found in plantations with fruiting trees bordering forests. The two subspecies are usually found inside humid primary forests but also occur at their edges, in clearings, and older secondary forests. 

In Costa Rica, the common yellow-throated toucan is found at elevations between 1,000 and 3,900 feet. 

Toucans primarily eat fruit but also consume small amounts of animal matter, including insects, other arthropods, small lizards, and the eggs and young of other birds. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the yellow-throated toucan as "Near Threatened." While the species has a large range, its population size is unknown and believed to be declining. The main threats are deforestation due to agriculture and ranching, along with hunting. 

"The yellow-throated toucan can tolerate some human disturbance and forest alteration but is still greatly affected by habitat loss," the IUCN states on its website. 

Another remarkable bird in Costa Rica is the "thousand colors bird," also known as the "butterfly bird." It is widely found in tropical rainforest lowlands and mountains. 

Wild Costa Rica is a space for readers to explore the fascinating species that make the "pura vida" land one of the world's most biodiverse countries. 

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