Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan

*Top 50 Target Species

The Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) is a striking, high-elevation frugivore found in Ecuador’s cloud forests between 2,200 and 3,300 meters, where it moves quietly through the canopy in small groups or family units. Globally listed as Near Threatened and considered Vulnerable in Ecuador, its population is declining due to habitat loss and fragmentation, especially along the eastern Andean slopes. Two subspecies occur in the country, with records from provinces like Napo, Azuay, and El Oro, often near the treeline in elfin and temperate forest. Though its nasal, ascending calls carry far, the bird itself is elusive, making it one of the least observed members of the mountain-toucan group.