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Toucan
This is the Toco toucan Ramphastos toco, largest of all the toucans and native to South America where it is found in semi-open habitats. Like the hornbill, the most striking feature of this colourful bird is the bill, accounting for one-third of the toucan’s length.
Numerous functions have been suggested for this bright bill, including sexual selection and fruit-peeling, but it appears the true function might be even more useful. The toucans can thermoregulate using the bill as a radiator to govern heat distribution. Bills are well-vascularised, with blood vessels constricting to retain heat and dilating to lose heat, in essence creating a ‘thermal window’. Changes in the bill surface temperature are rapid, occurring within minutes, and this large surface area means toucan bills rival elephant ears for the prize of largest thermal windows (relative to body size) in the animal kingdom.