FaunaHub

Jacamar (family Galbulidae)

BirdNeotropicalInsectivore

Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda), a slender bird with iridescent green plumage and a long bill.

Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda).

Image: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Overview

Jacamars (family Galbulidae) are slim, elegant birds of the American tropics, often likened to oversized, glittering hummingbirds or to bee-eaters because of their brilliant, metallic green-and-gold plumage and long, fine, dagger-like bills. The rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda), shown here, is a widespread and typical example, with shining green upperparts, a rufous belly, and a needle-thin bill.

Jacamars are aerial insect-hunters, and they are especially famous for catching butterflies and other large flying insects in swift, acrobatic sallies from a perch — then beating the prey against a branch before swallowing it.

Note: “jacamar” covers a family of species; details here use the rufous-tailed jacamar as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Jacamars live in the Neotropics — from Mexico through Central America and across much of tropical South America — in forests, forest edges, woodland, and clearings, often near rivers and openings where flying insects are plentiful. They favour places with perches overlooking open space, from which they can launch their aerial hunts.

Diet

Jacamars are insectivores that specialise in flying insects, particularly butterflies, dragonflies, wasps, bees, and beetles. A jacamar perches alertly, watches for a passing insect, then darts out to seize it in mid-air with its long bill before returning to its perch. It typically whacks larger prey against the branch to subdue it and, with butterflies and stinging insects, to remove wings or stingers before eating.

Behavior

Jacamars are sit-and-sally hunters, spending much of their time perched upright and still, scanning for insects, then making rapid, agile flights to snatch prey on the wing — a style that, with their iridescent colours, invites comparison to giant hummingbirds. They are often seen singly or in pairs and can be quite vocal, with sharp calls and trills. Unusually for such glittering birds, jacamars nest in burrows: they dig tunnels into earth banks or into termite mounds, laying their eggs at the end of the tunnel. Many are tame and approachable, allowing close views as they hunt from a favourite perch.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Jacamars are favourites of birdwatchers for their beauty and their dramatic insect-catching, and they are harmless and beneficial as predators of insects. Like most tropical-forest birds they depend on healthy forest and forest edge, so deforestation is the main concern, though many jacamars remain reasonably common and some tolerate edge and secondary habitats. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the jacamar

A jacamar showing its long, needle-like bill and glittering green back.

Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda), male.

Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently Asked Questions — Jacamar

Why are jacamars compared to hummingbirds?
Because of their glittering, metallic green-and-gold plumage and long, fine bills, jacamars look like oversized, jewel-toned hummingbirds. The resemblance is only superficial, though — jacamars aren't related to hummingbirds and don't hover to feed on nectar. Instead they're aerial insect-hunters that sally out from a perch to catch flying prey.
What do jacamars eat, and how do they hunt?
They specialise in flying insects — butterflies, dragonflies, wasps, bees, and beetles. A jacamar perches and watches, then darts out to snatch an insect in mid-air with its long, needle-like bill, returning to its perch to eat. It often beats larger prey against the branch and, with butterflies or stinging insects, removes the wings or stinger first.
Where do jacamars nest?
In burrows — which is surprising for such ornate birds. Jacamars dig tunnels into earthen banks or into termite mounds and lay their eggs at the end of the burrow. This hidden, underground nest helps protect the eggs and young from many predators.
Where do jacamars live?
In the American tropics, from Mexico through Central America and across much of tropical South America. They inhabit forests, forest edges, woodland, and clearings — often near rivers and open areas where flying insects are abundant — favouring perches that overlook open space for their aerial hunts.

Sources and further reading

Authoritative wildlife references used for general educational context. Conservation status should always be verified against current IUCN Red List data. External links open in a new tab.