Why do toucans have big beaks?
For grown-ups: the science
Toucans use their big, light beaks to reach food, and the beaks can also help them cool down.
A toucan's bill helps it reach and handle fruit on thin branches, though toucans eat other foods too. Its internal structure includes thin bone and air spaces, making it relatively lightweight. Blood flow through the bill can release body heat, helping with temperature control.
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Transcript
Look at that toucan in the tree. Why does it have such a big beak?
A toucan reaches with its long beak to pick fruit from skinny branches. The big beak helps it get food that is far away.
Its beak is light inside, with spaces and thin bone. That means the toucan can carry such a big beak while it flies.
On hot days, blood flows through the beak and lets heat leave the body. The beak can help the toucan cool down.
So a toucan's big beak helps it reach fruit and cool down. It is big, but it is also surprisingly light.