Black-mandibled Toucan

Ramphastos ambiguus

Well, this is certainly one of life’s little mysteries–  neither eBird or Birds of the World has any mention of, or information on this bird.  The Second Edition of Garrigues and Dean’s The Birds of Costa Rica, A Field Guide, says this about the Black-mandibled Toucan:  “The Bicolored, yellow and dark-brown bill distinguishes it from the Keel-billed Toucan.  On Caribbean and southern Pacific slopes, common in lowlands, and decreasingly common up into middle elevations; to 3,900 ft.  Inhabits forested and semi-open areas.  Its song, a sonorous tee de, te-de, te-de, is one of the most common sounds in its range.”

I saw my first Black-mandibled Toucan at La Selva, Costa Rica, on the early afternoon of February 6, 2023.  The bird was spotted across the river from the Visitor Center, near the clearing where the scientific buildings are located.  This bird gave us some good looks!