Plate-billed mountain toucan with orchids, Ecuador

Colour, craft and canopy life. Plate-billed mountain toucan with orchids, Ecuador

A bill like a multitool and plumage full of colour—the plate-billed mountain toucan is one of the Andes' most distinctive birds. It lives in the humid mountain forests of Ecuador and southwestern Colombia, perfectly adapted to life high in the canopy.

This toucan relies heavily on fruit, feeding on berries, figs and other forest produce. Using its strong, versatile bill, it reaches and processes food with ease. It often moves deliberately through the canopy in pairs or small groups, navigating dense foliage with surprising agility. As it feeds, it also disperses seeds, making it an important contributor to forest regeneration.

Perched here among orchids, the bird offers a glimpse into its lush habitat and the delicate balance it helps sustain. But beyond its striking colours lies a challenge: the species is considered near threatened as habitat loss continues to reshape the Andean cloud forests.