Jacamar facts for kids
The jacamars are a family of beautiful, shiny birds found in the warm, tropical forests of South and Central America, reaching up to Mexico. There are 18 different kinds (species) of jacamars, grouped into five main types (genera). They are close relatives of the puffbirds, another bird family from the same region. Scientists often group jacamars and puffbirds into their own special bird order called Galbuliformes, separate from other birds like Piciformes. You'll mostly find these birds in low-lying woodlands and forests, especially at the edges or high up in the treetops.
Quick facts for kids Jacamars |
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| Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Suborder: | Galbuli |
| Family: | Galbulidae Vigors, 1825 |
| Genera | |
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Galbalcyrhynchus |
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Jacamars: Speedy Jewel Birds
Jacamars are part of a larger group of birds called Piciformes. This group also includes woodpeckers and toucans. For a while, scientists weren't sure exactly where jacamars fit in. Some thought they might be more like kingfishers. But, studies looking at their DNA showed that jacamars and puffbirds are very closely related. They are like sister groups. These studies also found that both jacamars and puffbirds developed their special feet, called zygodactyl feet, before they split into separate families. Zygodactyl feet mean they have two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backward, which helps them grip branches.
How Jacamars Look
Jacamars are small to medium-sized birds. They are usually between 14–34 cm (5.5–13.4 in) long and weigh about 17–75 g (0.60–2.65 oz). They are known for being elegant and glossy, with long bills and long tails. Even though they eat insects in the air, like bee-eaters, they have long, thin bills instead of short, wide ones. Their legs are short and not very strong. As mentioned, their feet are zygodactyl, which means two toes point forward and two point backward.
Their feathers are often very bright and shiny, with a special iridescent glow, like a rainbow. A few species have duller feathers. Males and females usually look a little different. For example, males often have a white patch on their chest.
What Jacamars Eat
Jacamars are insect-eaters. They catch many different kinds of insects, especially butterflies and moths. They hunt by "hawking," which means they sit on a favorite branch and then quickly fly out to catch an insect in the air when it gets close enough.
Only the great jacamar is a bit different. It sometimes picks insects off leaves or branches, a method called "gleaning." It also occasionally eats small lizards and spiders.
Reproduction and Nests
Scientists haven't studied jacamar breeding habits in great detail. Most jacamars are thought to be monogamous, meaning one male and one female pair up. However, some species might have "cooperative breeding," where several adult birds help raise the young.
Jacamars make their nests in holes. These holes can be in the soil, often in riverbanks or even road banks. If there are no banks, they might nest in the soil held by the roots of fallen trees. Sometimes, jacamars that nest in banks will form loose colonies. They also nest in termite mounds found in trees.
A female jacamar usually lays between one and four eggs. Both parents help with incubating the eggs. We don't know much about how long most jacamar eggs take to hatch. But for the rufous-tailed jacamar, it takes about 19 to 26 days. When jacamar chicks hatch, they are born with soft, fluffy down feathers. This is special because it's unique among all the birds in the Piciformes order.
