The sight of a bold and colorful looking Yellow-throated Toucan brings me always excitement. Mother Nature has created such a vibrant character with this bird, and it is a delight to see them in Costa Rica.

So, I went on the quest to paint a luminous portrait in complementing symphony, made of chestnut/blue versus yellow/orange and green hues.  Which has been a fun and worthy challenge. I chose to portray the bird in this more direct position because I love the elegant look and I thought it was unique pose for a painting in general.

The yellow-throated Toucan is one of six toucan species in Costa Rica. Another large bird is the Keel-billed Toucan, and then there are the smaller toucanets: the Collared and the Fiery-billed Aracari, the Northern Emerald and the Yellow-eared Toucanet.

All of them have big bills compared to their body size. Their beaks contain keratin, like our fingernails. However, the body part is actually lightweight because it is built like a honeycomb structure. Many blood vessels run inside the beak and help regulate body temperature, functioning like a heat exchange system. This allows toucans to sit in the hot, gleaming canopy for hours digesting fruit. Aren't they fascinating?