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Page last updated at 18:04 GMT, Thursday, 23 July 2009 19:04 UK

Cameras show toucan's hot secrets

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For centuries, scientists have puzzled over why the toucan's bill is so remarkably large - but now one team thinks it might have an answer.

Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say that the toucan is using its enormous beak to stay cool.

They used infrared cameras to show that the bird is dumping heat from its body onto its bill, helping it to reduce its body temperature.

Here, lead researcher, Dr Glenn Tattersall, explains how the timelapse infrared footage shows how the toucan is able to regulate its temperature.

Footage courtesy of G. Tattersall/Science

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