About Aulacorhynchus albivitta (Boissonneau, 1840)
Like other toucan species, the southern emerald toucanet (Aulacorhynchus albivitta) has bright markings and a large bill. Adult individuals are 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weigh approximately 160 to 230 g (5.6 to 8.1 oz). Males and females look similar overall, though females are generally smaller and have shorter bills. The species' bill is black, with a wide yellow stripe running along the culmen and a white vertical stripe at the base. Two subspecies, A. a. albivitta and A. a. phaeolaemus, show some chestnut or maroon coloration at the base of the culmen. All subspecies have mostly green plumage, consistent with other members of the genus Aulacorhynchus, and the plumage on the belly is somewhat lighter than the plumage on the upperparts. The nominate subspecies A. a. albivitta has a white throat. It has bare yellow to orange skin surrounding the dark eye, and this bare skin is itself surrounded by blue feathers. Subspecies A. a. lautus has a pale gray throat and bare orange-brown or gray skin around the eye. A. a. phaeolaemus has a pale blue throat, while A. a. griseigularis has a gray throat. All subspecies have olive green legs and feet, with dusky yellow soles. The southern emerald toucanet primarily lives in the interior of humid montane forest. It can also be found in more open landscapes, including forest edges, secondary forest, plantations, and clearings with scattered trees.
