Emerald Toucanet

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• GroomingRegular feather care

  Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment10–20 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Obesity · Kidney disease

The Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) is a small, vivid green member of the toucan family from the cloud forests of Central and northern South America, with a large black-and-yellow bill and a bold, inquisitive character. It weighs 120-230 g and can live 10-20 years, and is a softbill for experienced keepers rather than a beginner's bird. Toucanets are intensely active, playful and curious, hopping, hunting and manipulating objects all day, and they need a large planted aviary with room to bounce between branches. They can be kept tame and even affectionate but retain a strong prey drive and should not be housed with finches or small birds, which they may hunt. Their specialised diet is the real challenge: a base of low-iron softbill pellets and a wide variety of chopped fresh fruit, because toucans are highly prone to iron-storage disease, so citrus and iron-rich foods are limited and any diet change is done carefully with an avian vet. Provide plenty of flight space, foraging enrichment and warmth, keep the enclosure scrupulously clean, and work with a vet experienced in softbills; done right, the emerald toucanet is a dazzling, endlessly entertaining aviary bird.

• How much activity does a Emerald Toucanet need?

  High. Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• How much feather care does a Emerald Toucanet need?

  Regular feather care. Regular bathing or misting plus nail and beak checks.

• What cage does a Emerald Toucanet need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Emerald Toucanet a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Emerald Toucanet live?

  10–20 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Emerald Toucanet?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Obesity, Kidney disease. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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