It is social, living in small family groups which work together to defend their territories and raise the chicks communally.

It feeds on fruit and a range of animal prey, with insects being an important part of the diet of chicks.

[2] The specific name, ramphastinus, is modern Latin for toucan-like, based on Linnaeus' genus Ramphastos (1758).

[4] The following year, Richmond issued a correction, as the name he had chosen was itself preoccupied (by the chimpanzees) and erected a new genus Semnornis for the two species.

[2][10] The beak is robust with a yellow maxilla and a light green mandible, both with dark ends.

The species has long occipital feathers and a conspicuous white stripe behind the eyes, which has a bright red-colored iris.

[2] The species is native to the humid forests of the western Andes, from the Andean slopes of northwest Ecuador to southwest Colombia, at altitudes of 1,400–2,400 m (4,600–7,900 ft).

As nesting trees of sufficient diameter are not very common in these forests, habitat loss through logging is impacting the species.

[10] The toucan barbet is usually found in pairs or small groups perched silently on long horizontal branches, making them hard to find unless active or singing.

[10] Toucan barbet calls are unmistakable, composed of loud shrieks that travel long distances.

Other food taken includes insects such as termites, small reptiles, nectar, tree sap, and flower petals.

It forages in small groups of up to six birds and sometimes forms mixed flocks with tyrant flycatchers, warblers, tanagers, and other frugivores.

[2] The toucan barbet carves out holes in tree trunks with its powerful beak, in which it roosts and nests.

White-faced capuchins and Neotropical dwarf squirrels are also treated as threats to nesting sites by family groups.

[1] Though still fairly common locally, its populations have decreased due to habitat loss, accelerated by massive logging operations, deforestation, cattle grazing, and mining.

[1] Illegal trapping for the local and international cage-bird trade is considered to be the main threat to this species, as it is adaptable and can tolerate some habitat modification if left unmolested.

[2] Heavy trapping pressure and habitat fragmentation due to forest clearing are thought to be responsible for some localised extinctions of this species.