Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Using a Thermal Camera to Measure Heat Loss Through Bird Feather Coats
Published on: June 17, 2020
Heat exchange from the toucan bill reveals a controllable vascular thermal radiator
Glenn J Tattersall1, Denis V Andrade, Augusto S Abe
1Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco), the largest member of the toucan family, possesses the largest beak relative to body size of all birds. This exaggerated feature has received various interpretations, from serving as a sexual ornament to being a refined adaptation for feeding. However, it is also a significant surface area for heat exchange. Here we show the remarkable capacity of the toco toucan to regulate heat distribution by modifying blood flow, using the bill as a transient thermal radiator. Our results indicate that the toucan's bill is, relative to its size, one of the largest thermal windows in the animal kingdom, rivaling elephants' ears in its ability to radiate body heat.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of heat transfer
Thermoregulation
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
Veins
Structure of Veins:
The structure of veins is specifically designed to assist in the low-pressure transportation of blood...
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I
