Bird of the Week – Fiery-Billed Aricari
WC will break away from Alaska bird species for a bit and show some of the tropical species of the Western Hemisphere. The Fiery-Billed Aricari is a cousin to the better-known Toucan species.
Fiery-billed Aricari
The spectacular bill has evolved to allow the bird to pluck, crush and eat fruits, berries and nuts. And it’s worth a close-up view.
Fiery-billed Aricari – Bill Closeup
You can see the serrated edges in this closer view; they allow the bird to hold fruits and nuts. The bird is surprisingly delicate as it uses that big bill, plucking tiny berries and working the skin off of big fruits.
The spectacular evolution and specialization of bird bills reached some kind of high water mark with this family of birds. It’s not the most outrageous of bird bills, but it would be on the short list.
More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.
I have to remember to come here. For some reason, I stopped reading notifications of new posts, so I just signed up again to get them by email.
That is a great photo of a gorgeous bird. As always, WC, thanks for posting it.
Looks like a cross between a red headed woodpecker,a toucan and some magic mushrooms or other hallucenogenic drug.
There is no such thing. You’re just making this up.
Holy moley! Beautiful bird!
If that is ” not the most outrageous of bird bills”, I’m waiting to see what other birds are on the short list!
Thanks WC. Really look forward to these weekly peeks at birds – from those I know to the far too many I don’t know.
I’m with Pi, looking forward to these birds
like once upon a time I looked forward to the Sunday funnies
in !Color!
Many thanks, WC.