just a ?

[cherriesanglea]

okay this may sound dumb but do they bite and if so does it hurt? by the way their becks look you could lose an arm

[Monica]

I wouldn't imagine that a bite would hurt, but a peck sure would! I wouldn't know...

When my mother and I first visited the bird store in this area they had a toucan. The toucan had a gym near the door so he could *look pretty* and watch the visitors come in! And he was free to hop around the store! My mother was walking around, checking out all the various birds, and I watch the toucan hop down off the gym and go hopping around the store. My mother just so happens to be standing in front of the toucans cage, so he pecked her on the foot, as if to say "Hey! You're in the way... Could ya move it, please?" and as soon as she moved, he hopped right in his cage! And the peck didn't hurt my mother...

I've seen them in person, but I've never tried handling one or interacting with one... I can't imagine a bite actually hurting, but maybe if they pecked instead?

[neeko143]

yes... it does :-D... Monica- NOEL IS SO CUTE!!!

[Monica]

Thank you! Although Charlie is the one in my avatar!

Speaking of the toucan in the petstore... apparently, he bit somebody else (under similar circumstances, I think?) and because the toucan has a soft beak, well, it didn't hurt.

[Tiffany and Mitcheri]

I can tell you first hand that the bite of a Channel Billed Toucan doesn't hurt. It is the stab jab as I call it that gets you. When they feel threatened they will try to stab you with that beak. While it may not break the skin the force the little buggers put into it can leave a nasty bruise. Sam used to get antsy when new people were around and try to stab them through the cage. Needless to say people would stay away..lol.

[LissaLuvsLuvies]

I got the chance to handle a toco toucan a few years back. Some idiot thought banging some Nalgene bottles together to get the bird's attention for a picture was a good idea (oh, the stupidity!). The toco got spooked (of course) and grabbed my hand. The bite didn't hurt- even though he'd grabbed a peice of loose skin around my knuckle- but the twisting sure did! I had a bruise for a few days.

I'd say it was about as painful as a lovebird bite (one that doesn't break the skin, lol), but no where near the pain of a larger parrot.

[asurademon]

A toucan's bite will not hurt nearly as much as a parrot of equivalent, or even larger size. This isn't to say a toucan won't be able to do some damage with its beak if really agitated or threatened, they can, but just not as much as a hookbill could do.