Selenidera piperivora (Linnaeus, 1758)

Body Length

The Guianan toucanet (Selenidera piperivora) is 33 to 35 cm (13 to 14 in) long.

Body Weight

Males weigh between 129 and 159 g (4.6 to 5.6 oz), while females weigh between 132 and 165 g (4.7 to 5.8 oz).

Bill Pattern General

Males and females share the same bill pattern, though the female's bill is shorter.

Bill Base Marking

A yellowish line runs along the base of the bill.

Bill Coloration

Both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) mandibles are mostly black with red bases; the red color extends further onto the mandible.

Facial Features

Both sexes have bare blue skin surrounding the eye, with a tuft of yellow feathers positioned behind this blue skin.

Male Plumage (Upper Body, Throat, Breast)

Males have black plumage on the crown, nape, throat, breast, and belly. They have a gold "collar" on the upper back, and the rest of their upperparts are green.

Male Tail and Undertail Coverts

Their tail is green, with chestnut-colored feather tips. Their undertail coverts are red.

Female Plumage (Upper Body)

Adult females have a black cap, with chestnut-colored nape and upper back, and only a faint hint of a yellow collar.

Female Plumage (Underparts)

Their underparts are gray to green-gray, with a green-yellow belly.

Immature Plumage and Bill

Immature Guianan toucanets are similar to adults but are overall duller, with less distinct plumage and bill patterns.

Distribution Range

The Guianan toucanet ranges from extreme southeastern Venezuela east through the Guianas into northern Brazil, and extends south to the Amazon River between the Rio Negro and the Amazon's mouth in the state of Amapá.

Habitat Preferences

It lives in moist forest, including gallery forest in savannas, and prefers primary forest over selectively logged areas.

Elevation Range

In most of its range, it occurs at elevations up to 600 m (2,000 ft), but it can be found as high as 900 m (3,000 ft) in Venezuela and Suriname.