[2] The red-breasted toucan is 42 to 48 cm (17 to 19 in) long and weighs 265 to 400 g (9.3 to 14 oz); it is the smallest member of genus Ramphastos.

Their crown, nape, upperparts, and tail are black but for red uppertail coverts.

[4] The red-breasted toucan is found from Tocantins, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo in south-central, east-central, and southeastern Brazil south through eastern Paraguay, Bolivia and into northern Argentina's Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, and Misiones provinces.

It primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical, sub-montane and montane forest, but also scrublands, savanna with trees, and plantations.

[4] In the southern part of its range the red-breasted toucan moves to lower elevations in the austral winter.

[4] The red-breasted toucan breeds between October and February in the southern part of its range and from January to June in the north.

"[6] Other vocalizations are a "long series of noisy honking 'grrekk' notes" and "low 'ek', 'zneep', [and] growl-like begging".

[4] The IUCN originally assessed the red-breasted toucan as Near Threatened but since 2004 has rated it as being of Least Concern.