Scientific Name: Ramphastos ambiguus

Large, conspicuous bird with an oversized bill. Mostly black overall with a bright yellow throat and face. Note the distinctive bicolored bill: dark on the lower mandible and yellow on the upper. Usually found in pairs or small groups, often moving conspicuously through the canopy in search of fruit. Sometimes perches in full view at the top of a tree. Favors forested areas but is also seen in gardens and forest edges. Its sharp, yelping call helps distinguish it from similar-looking species.

The Yellow-throated Toucan is an important seed disperser in Costa Rica’s tropical ecosystems, feeding on a wide variety of fruits and occasionally insects or small vertebrates. Despite its large size and bold colors, it moves gracefully among the treetops, hopping from branch to branch with surprising agility. Its loud calls often echo across the forest before the bird is even seen, making it one of the most iconic and recognizable toucans in the region.