Many folks know of Magpies’ love of and attraction to shiny objects, but few will have heard of a bird that takes this love to a whole different level and also includes mechanical things as well in its fancies.
The TIn-Can Toucan, or TC Toucan in its abbreviated form, was first discovered by Brenda Feather. The TC is a subspecies of toucan, but differs from its relatives in having a beak considerably bigger and stronger which enables it to prise open tin cans. Upon returning to camp while on expedition, Feather came across a pairs of Toucans, rifling their way through her provisions and easily opening her stash of tinned goods. Later while writing up her account of the expedition, she used the nick-name ‘Tin-Can Toucan’ which went on to stick with the bird.
The bird appears in a variety of diffent hues, and is certainly one of the most colourful of tropical birds.
As well as the aforementioned tin-cans, this toucan is also attracted to mechanical parts, and has been known to raid garbage dumps and scrap yards for pieces that attract its attention. These parts often end up in its nest, which in makes in tree hollows. The chicks are born surrounded by mechanical parts and so it is speculated that this causes them to also seek out such objects to have around them.
The TIn-Can Toucan briefly made the international press during in the 1960s.
While competing in the 1964 Bolivian Rally, the Fiat 500 of Diego Massini and Felipe Zeppo suffered unexpected mechanical problems due to a flock of Tin-Can Toucans descending on their car while briefly paused waiting for the next stage to start. Massini and Zeppo were leading their class at the time, but were forced to abandon the rally.