Rainbow Toucan
Also called the Black Curré or Rainbow Tip, these toucans are commonly seen in the Tortuguero region and on the Caribbean plains, mostly in the canopy, high in the treetops. They have a brilliant black color with a yellow mark on the chest and its beak is large and multicolored like a rainbow. The males are around 47 centimeters long and weigh around 500 grams. The females are generally smaller.
Their loud song can be heard for hundreds of meters. They nest in cavities in the trunks they find at a safe height. The bottom of the nest is often covered with regurgitated seeds. January to May is the mating season. Each female sits upon 3 or 4 eggs.
The toucan feeds on fruits and seeds, but also small lizards, insects and snakes. In the Tortuguero region, it is common to see toucans traveling in flocks of 6 to 8 individuals.
Tigrillo
Nocturnal and agile, the tigrillo is the smallest of the spotted wild cats. It is barely larger than a domestic house cat. It lives in tropical areas, where it can find abundant vegetation. Its large dark eyes with enlarged, sharp pupils allow it to see at night, making it an excellent hunter. It feeds on birds, reptiles, and small rodents.
One of the characteristics of the species is the long tail, longer than that of its close relative, the ocelot. Its coat is gray or light brown with irregular black spots, more clear in the center with a lighter underbelly and strong, flexible legs.
The beauty of its coat is one of the reasons it is endangered, along with the destruction of its habitat. If one is alert, tigrillos can be seen slinking around the underbrush in Tortuguero, but generally they stay away from curious visitors.
The Herons
From the family Ardeidae, this group is formed from 50-65 species which live in many diverse regions around the world, with the exception of the Arctic, the Antarctic, as well as high, snow covered areas. Generally they prefer tropical and inter-tropical areas. They are birds whose legs, tails, and necks are generally large in comparison to the body.
They usually live close to water, on the edges of rivers and ponds, in marshes or near the ocean. Perhaps because of this, Tortuguero is home to many species of herons, like the Blue Heron, the Striped Heron, and the Tiger Heron among others. With a few exceptions, they nest once a year, some alone and others in small colonies. Their nests are simple, constructed with grass and twigs as small platforms above the twigs and grass or in the branches of certain shrubs and bushes.
Some herons are more active during the day, making them easier to see, while others are nocturnal. Herons are able fishers and insect hunters thanks to their specialized beaks. Nevertheless, they will not pass up small amphibians and even other birds’ chicks should they happen upon them. Depending on the species, herons can remain in one place for their whole lives or migrate according to the seasons.
Ecotourism and Nature 
