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[[Image:BlackbilledMtnToucan.JPG]]

'''Common Name:''' Black-billed Mountain Toucan<br>
'''Scientific Name:''' Andigena nigrirostris

'''Size:''' 19 ½ - 20 ½ inches (49-52 cm)

'''Habitat:''' South America. This species occurs in Colombia on both slopes of the West (south to Cauca), Central (head of the Magdalena valley in Huila and east slope in Putumayo and Nariño) and East (south to Cundinamarca and west Caquetá) Andes; in north-east Ecuador (Napo) on the east slope of the Andes; and in north-west Venezuela (Trujillo and Táchira). 

It is relatively common in montane evergreen forest and forest edge at 1,600-3,200 m, and to 1,200 m on the Pacific slope and east slope of the East Andes.

'''Status:''' Least Concern. '''Global Population:''' Unknown.  The species is becoming increasingly local owing to habitat destruction. Unplanned colonization following the completion of roads and massive logging concessions have cleared or degraded many of its Chocó forests, and deforestation is accelerating; a long history of human colonization on inter-Andean slopes has left only remnant forest patches, pasture and; and extensive degradation in the East Andes has largely cleared west slopes for intensive crop cultivation and pasture.

'''Diet:''' Fruits, berries, drupes and dehiscents. This species will hold fruit in place and break it apart to consume. Diet is almost exclusively fruits but some insects and eggs.

'''Nesting:'''  Sexes alike but female has shorter bill; immature birds have overall duller plumage.  Season may last from March-October but generally is from May-August.  Nesting occurs in tree cavities.  This toucan generally excavates nest holes in palm logs, but has also been known to usurp barbet nests and renovate them to their liking.  Nests are built 6-30m from ground.  Courtship feeding occurs at the nest.  After the cavity is completed, the entrance hole is widened.  The clutch is 2-3 white eggs.  Incubation lasts about 16 days and fledging occurs at 46-60 days.  The young will not return to nest afterwards. Parents may produce a second clutch as early as 20 days after the first clutch fledges.

'''Cool Facts:''' Despite its name, only the nominate subspecies has an entirely black bill, while both ''A. n. occidentalis'' and ''A. n. spilorhyncha'' have bills that are chestnut and black.


'''Found in [http://hivewire3d.com/songbird-remix-toucans2.html Songbird ReMix Toucans 2]'''