Tepui Toucanet

Fairly common and one of the more reliable Pantepui endemics; regularly seen and heard along the Escalera. A confidence-builder target — most well-run tepui trips connect with it.

Slender, small green toucanet (often treated as part of the 'Groove-billed/White-throated' complex). Mostly green plumage with a whitish-to-pale throat, a comparatively short reddish-to-dark bill (less boldly grooved/marked than allies), and chestnut tips to the tail feathers. Reddish vent. Looks small-billed and trim for a toucanet.

Moist subtropical montane cloud forest on tepui slopes and summits; also hilly tropical forest at lower edges. Mainly 800–1,800 m, recorded to ~2,380 m on Roraima and lower in the Guianas.

In pairs or small groups in the canopy and subcanopy; works fruiting trees and follows ridgelines. Vocal and often located by its persistent grunting series; can sit quietly while feeding.

A low, dry grunting series — 'grank, graank, graank…' / a wailing or croaking grunt repeated rhythmically, sometimes for long stretches with short pauses. Distinctive and far-carrying. Recordings: search 'Aulacorhynchus whitelianus' or 'Tepui Toucanet' on Xeno-canto and the Macaulay Library.

Teach clients the grunting call first thing — it's the fastest way to pin one down, and you can often track a calling bird to a fruiting tree for scope views. A near-sure tick on the Escalera, so good to deliver early to settle a group.