Toucans
American: c. 1930s
Painting on masonite
32 x 41 inches
Provenance: By repute, from the Exotic Bird Exhibit at the Bronx Zoo
Price On Request

Unique, attractive and large hand-painted hexagonal exhibit plaque describing and illustrating a variety of toucans with their scientific and common names, from a display at the Bronx Zoo. It contains profile views of various species, a map of the Western Hemisphere showing their range, and a series of illustrations depicting their nesting habits.

The hexagonal plaque holds two circular panels attached by screws and two rectangular text labels. The letters of the title "Toucans" are also applied.

The text labels read the following:

“Toucans are related to the woodpeckers and barbets. They are gregarious jungle birds and travel in small, noisy flocks, feeding on fruits and small animals. Their calls range from yelps to tattles. The names ‘Toucan' and ‘Aracari' come from the Amazon Indian names ‘Toco' and ‘Arrassari.'

“Except in a few species, male and female toucans look alike. Both parents share incubation (about 16 days) and in brooding and feeding the young. Chicks are hatched naked and remain in the nest 6 or 7 weeks.

While the bright beaks are useful in defense and in plucking berries, their evolution is not clear. The patterns may be useful in courtship display and species recognition.”