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New Understanding of the Toucan's Bill; Sheds Heat, Keeps Bird Cool

As National Geographic suggests, it's good for more than sniffing out Fruit Loops. In fact, the toucan's bill acts as a radiator to help shed heat, allowing the bird to maintain a stable and constant body temperature. The large size of the bill has been a puzzle to scientists for a long time. Previous theories thought it was meant to attract mates, to aid in fruit peeling, or to warn off predators. But a team at Brock University in Canada put the toucan's bill "under the mircoscope" and discovered that it helps the bird to cool off. The bill is sure to work harder as temperatures are projected to rise as a result of climate change. Let's hope the bill is big enough for the toucan to stay cool.

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