Southern Emerald-Toucanet

Like other toucans, the southern emerald toucanet is brightly marked and has a large bill. Adults are 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weigh about 160 to 230 g (5.6 to 8.1 oz). The sexes are alike in appearance although the female generally is smaller and shorter-billed. Their bill is black with a wide yellow stripe along its culmen and a white vertical strip at its base. Subspecies A. a. albivitta and A. a. phaeolaemus have some chestnut or maroon at the base of the culmen. All the subspecies have plumage that is mainly green like that of other members of genus Aulacorhynchus, and is somewhat lighter below than above. The nominate A. a. albivitta has a white throat. It has bare yellow to orange skin around the dark eye that is further surrounded by blue feathers. Subspecies A. a. lautus has a pale gray throat and bare orange-brown or gray skin around the eye. A. a. phaeolaemus has a pale blue throat and A. a. griseigularis a gray throat. All subspecies have olive green legs and feet with dusky yellow soles.

The southern emerald toucanet primarily inhabits the interior of humid montane forest but is also found in more open landscapes like the forest's edge, secondary forest, plantations, and clearings with scattered trees.

The southern emerald toucanet is gregarious and frequently gathers in small groups.