Curl Crested Aracari
(Pteroglossus beauharnaesii)

The Curl Crested Aracari (Pteroglossus beauharnaesii) is a very curious looking bird, thanks to the extraordinary feathers on the crown, which are curled up like gift wrap ribbon. They are very glossy and have the look and feel of plastic or patten leather. Further, the whitish yellow facial feathers have black tips that are larger than the surrounding feather shaft.

Curl Crested Aracaris are found in central and southern Brazil as far east as the mouth of the Madeira River and westward to the lowland forests of eastern Peru and south into northern Bolivia.

Curl Crested Aracari (Pteroglossus beauharnaesii) – Jerry Jennings’ Emerald Forest Bird Gardens
The only known specimens of Curl Crested Aracaris in the U.S. are to be found at the San Diego Zoo, where three pair are housed in breeding enclosures, only one pair of which is on display.

Aviculture: Outdoor flights should be at least 4′ x 8′ x 4′ for aracaris (Even larger flights should be used if possible!).

Aracaris are quite docile compared to the larger toucans, and can more readily be housed with small birds in a planted aviary, though again not with finch sized birds.

Aracaris are frugivorous birds, whose primary diet is fruit. In the wild they consume fruits from as many as 100 species of plants and trees. They also consume a variety of insects for protein, especially during their nesting cycle.

They MUST be fed FRESH fruit every day! The fruit diet should also be supplemented with a low iron protein source (such as Mazuri Low Iron Softbill diet by Purina Mills).

Toucans are not as difficult to breed as often thought and must be housed alone in pairs, preferably following the size enclosures mentioned above under housing. While they will breed in boxes, with a concave bottom, they are far more likely to breed if they are provided with a “natural” nest, constructed from a palm tree log. Logs allow these birds to continually dig their nest chamber deeper, which helps them cement the pair bond.

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