More than 80% of Guyana is still covered by forests, ranging from dry evergreen and seasonal forests to montane and lowland evergreen rain forests. As a result, it has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. The avifauna of Guyana include a total of 796 species, of which one is endemic and 94 are rare or accidental. Among them are eight species of toucans, passerine birds brightly marked, with enormous, colorful bills.
The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), also known as the common toucan, is the largest (55-65cm) and the best known species in the toucan family. It is found in semi-open habitats throughout a large part of central and eastern South America. It has a striking plumage with a mainly black , a white throat, chest and uppertail-coverts, and red undertail-coverts. What appears to be a blue iris is actually thin blue skin around the eye, surrounded by another ring of bare, orange skin.
The most noticeable feature is its huge bill, which measures from 15.8 to 23cm in length, which is yellow-orange, tending to deeper reddish-orange on its lower sections and culmen, and with a black base and large spot on the tip. Its voice consists of a deep, coarse croaking, often repeated every few seconds. It also has a rattling call and will bill-clack. The toco toucan eats fruit, but also insects, frogs, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings.
About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series New Millennium - People and Events of Eleventh Century, 1050-1100, issued on December 13, 1999. The second stamp is part of the series Football World Cup - France, issued on April 8 1998.
References
Toco Toucan - Wikipedia
Sender:
Sent from Georgetown (Guyana), on 12.02.2014
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