Tommy Toucan.
Both male and female toucans possess large colorful bills. Their exact purpose isn't clear, though they're believed to play a role in the courthship ritual and in self-defense. As a weapon, however, the bill is more show than substance. It's a lightweight honeycomb of keratin—the same protein that makes up fingernails and horn—supported by thin rods of bone. While its size may deter predators, it is of little use in fighting them. The toco toucan can also regulate the flow of blood to its bill, allowing the bird to use it as a way to distribute heat away from its body.
The term toucan—derived from tucano, a native Brazilian term for the bird.
I used Prisma Watercolor pencils on this one. From vol #2 in Tim Jeffs Intricate Animals in Details.
Tommy Toucan.
Both male and female toucans possess large colorful bills. Their exact purpose isn't clear, though they're believed to play a role in the courthship ritual and in self-defense. As a weapon, however, the bill is more show than substance. It's a lightweight honeycomb of keratin—the same protein that makes up fingernails and horn—supported by thin rods of bone. While its size may deter predators, it is of little use in fighting them. The toco toucan can also regulate the flow of blood to its bill, allowing the bird to use it as a way to distribute heat away from its body.
The term toucan—derived from tucano, a native Brazilian term for the bird.
I used Prisma Watercolor pencils on this one. From vol #2 in Tim Jeffs Intricate Animals in Details.