The saffron toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni) is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae found in the Atlantic Forest in far north-eastern Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay.

The rump, ocular skin and patches on the basal half of the otherwise greenish-horn bill are red.

The adult male has a golden head and breast, olive mantle (the wings, shoulder feathers and back) and red rump.

A young toucanet is mostly olive and grey colored, with brown eyes and a blotchy bill.

It is thought that this species is part of an ancient stock that became isolated in the current Atlantic Forest from marine transgression and were not able to adapt and invade the Brazilian savanna.

This species was found to be “endemic and high sensitivity” to the fragmentation, meaning that since they are native to the land, they are more likely to be affected by the split.

Species with many links tend to establish interactions both within and among environments and to exhibit a greater contribution to nestedness.

[9] On average, species that contribute more to network organization, like the saffron, are at a higher risk of extinction.

Due to their small size, they do not need large cavities for their nests and they do not need to compete with other species for suitable spots.

[10] They prefer making their nests in living trees such as the Garapa (Apuleia leiocarpa) and the Aspidosperma australe.

It is thought that their smaller bodies helped them be able to perch on the nest, enter and exit quickly.

Chlamydophila psittaci, a parasitic agent that can be passed between avian species, was specifically studied in the saffron toucanet, along with several of its other relatives.

[12] In São Paulo Zoo Foundation, the hemoparasite microfilarie was found in one of the saffrons tested.

[14] Other conservation initiatives like the Private Nature Reserves are growing more popular but are still in need of publicity and financial support.