The Jacamar bird is a woodland wonder, inhabiting Central and South American tropical scrub, perching for insects and standing on less than significant legs. Jacamars prefer exotic locales like Bolivia, Belize, Turkey, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Amazonia. Species of variable Jacamar types may be found in small river scrubland ranges in the Amazon to areas throughout Argentina.

Jacamars use their thin beaks to capture food, with the length allowing insect stingers and butterfly wings to stay out of harmful range. Neck movement arches the entire head and long thin bill to and fro. The Jacamar call is a hooting, rolled-up “wheet” sound that repeats. The arboreal perchings of the Jacamar give rise to song and a sentinel hunting stance in the tree canopy.

The plumage and call of this woodland jewel redeems itself many times over, and many varieties give interest to the intricacy of the plumage. Brilliant and subtle metallic feather cover, a mellifluous and distinctive vocalization, and notable vertical bill extension during the perched “hunt” signal a rare bird indeed. Jacamars may prefer streams and thickets where insects may unwittingly congregate and pass.

Iridescence is a quality not found in many natural birds, but this shiny metallic quality in the plumage render the blue green and bronze colors a glamour unique to the Jacamar. Male and female Jacamar might have white or cream under beak throats areas, or perhaps that sighting belongs to a white throated jacamar breed proper. The Rufous Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) enjoys popularity die to its bronze to chestnut breast and tail striations of color.

The tiny Jacamar is a puffbird silhouette but with cuckoo (or smaller) dimensions. The beak will extend almost straight up as the Jacamar nimbly and sharply turns its neck and bill toward possible airborne meals. The Jacamar moves swiftly, attacking prey after somewhat sedentary screening perches spent watching the forest under canopy and surrounding air space.

The long horizontal bill and long tail feather of the Jacamar extend and balance the perched body in treelines. The tail might be squared according to subspecies. The feel of the motmot and bee eater in the Jacamar build and appearance is noted by many experts. Jungle canopy serves the Jacamar well, blending with its vibrant color. A coppery to verdigris metallic green plumage is sported with the distinctive beak. Peach or orange underparts and breast might build the dynamic effect.

Rare and beautiful, this tiny bird has moved through the stages of threatened endangerment and back again. Ecotourism and bird counts are features which record the Jacamar’s importance to the natural conservance community. Varieties of Jacamar within the breed, like the three toed Jacamar Jacamaralcyon tridactyla), are threatened.

Some of the more well-known types of Jacamar include: White-eared Jacamar, Chestnut Jacamar, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Pale-headed Jacamar, Brown Jacamar, White-throated Jacamar, Three-toed Jacamar, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Green-tailed Jacamar, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, White-chinned Jacamar, Purplish Jacamar, Bronzy Jacamar, Paradise Jacamar, and Great Jacamar.

Please visit the Tropical Bird Forum for information about tropical birds.

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