Paradise jacamar

These agile hunters can catch butterflies and dragonflies mid-flight

Charles J. Sharp

The jacamars are a family of iridescent birds found in the Neotropical region. They are characterized by their long, thin bills and long tails, resembling the non-passerine bee-eaters.

They are insectivorous, often specializing in butterflies and moths. They are primarily sit-and-wait predators in the canopies of woodlands and forest edges that catch their prey mid-flight. They have the remarkable ability to memorize unpalatable prey and distinguish between unpalatable models and their palatable mimics.

These birds are monogamous. They build nests in the form of burrows, which house 2-4 eggs per clutch. Both parents participate in parental care; sometimes, older offsprings act as helpers.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Bolivia
2016
Brazil
2016
Colombia
2016
Ecuador
2016
French Guiana
2016
Guyana
2016
Peru
2016
Suriname
2016
Venezuela
2016

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd / Flock

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No