Dusky-backed jacamar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dusky-backed jacamar |
|
|---|---|
_(14564669748).jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Brachygalba
|
| Species: |
salmoni
|
 |
|
The dusky-backed jacamar (Brachygalba salmoni) is a cool bird found in the forests of Colombia and Panama. It belongs to a bird family called Galbulidae, which are often called jacamars.
Contents
About the Dusky-backed Jacamar
What Kind of Bird Is It?
The dusky-backed jacamar is a unique bird. It is the only one of its exact kind. However, it is part of a larger group of similar birds. These include the pale-headed, brown, and white-throated jacamars. Think of them like close cousins in the bird world!
What Does It Look Like?
This bird is about 16.5 to 18 centimeters (6.5 to 7 inches) long. That's about the length of a regular pencil!
Male dusky-backed jacamars weigh around 18.5 grams (0.65 ounces). Females are a bit lighter, weighing about 16 grams (0.56 ounces).
The male birds have dark greenish-black feathers on their back and chest. These feathers can look a bit bluish when they get older. Their cheeks are dark, like they've been smudged with soot. They have a white or whitish throat. Their belly and chest are a warm cinnamon color. Female birds look very similar to males, but their throat is a light yellowish-brown color.
Where Does It Live?
The dusky-backed jacamar lives in parts of Panama and Colombia. You can find it in Panama's Darién Province. In Colombia, it lives in the northern areas of Chocó, Antioquia, and Córdoba Department. There's also a separate group of these birds in northern Bolívar Department, Colombia.
These birds love humid forests. They live in both old, untouched forests (called primary forests) and forests that have grown back (secondary forests). They prefer the edges of these forests. You might spot them near clearings or along streams, rather than deep inside the forest. They usually live in areas up to about 700 meters (2,300 feet) high.
How Does It Behave?
What Does It Eat?
The dusky-backed jacamar is a skilled hunter of flying insects. It waits on a perch, then quickly flies out to catch insects in the air. It often hunts for food with a partner or in small family groups.
How Does It Raise Its Young?
Scientists believe that dusky-backed jacamars nest in burrows. These burrows are likely dug into earth banks. However, there isn't much information about their breeding habits. Birds that were ready to breed have been seen in Colombia during January and February.
What Does It Sound Like?
This bird has a special and complex song [1]. Its call sounds like an "upwardly inflected 'sweet' or 'feet'." Sometimes, they repeat this call many times to make a longer series of sounds [2].
Is It Endangered?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the dusky-backed jacamar. They have assessed it as a species of Least Concern. This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing.
Even though it's not very common overall, you can find many of them in certain local areas within its small range. These birds can even handle some changes to their habitat. In fact, they might even prefer areas where the forest has been slightly disturbed. However, the group of birds living in Bolívar, Colombia, might be at risk if their habitat is destroyed.
