The toucan’s colorful bill gives new meaning to the phrase cool dude. Indeed, that gigantic schnoz turns out to be a radiator the rain forest dweller uses to lose body heat.

The bill of the Toco Toucan makes up about one-third of its body length and ornithologists have long wondered about the purpose for the appendage.

Could it be a sexual signal, some snicker.

Maybe a special adaptation to peel fruit, suggest the gourmand set.

Cool Dude. An adult Toco toucan is shown. Researchers concluded the bird’s large beak helps it stay cool.

Perhaps, the defense minded say, a weapon.

Or, at least, a visual warning to other toucans.

Researchers led by Glenn J. Tattersall of Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, wondered if the big beak might have yet another use — cooling.

After all, elephants use their ears for cooling. So do bunnies. So why not toucan beaks?

Randoph E. Schmid, Associated Press
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/23/toucan-bill-cool.html