Galbula pastazae
The Coppery-chested Jacamar (Galbula pastazae) is a strikingly beautiful, medium-sized bird belonging to the family Galbulidae, which comprises the jacamars. This species typically measures about 24-27 cm (9.4-10.6 in) in length, including its notably long, slender tail, and has a long, pointed, dark bill perfectly adapted for insect capture. Males exhibit iridescent green upperparts, a brilliant coppery-chest, and a distinct white throat, while females are similar but possess a buffy-white t...
This species primarily inhabits humid subtropical and tropical lowland evergreen forests, particularly along forest edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth, often near rivers or streams, at elevations typically between 400 and 1400 meters.
The diet of the Coppery-chested Jacamar consists almost exclusively of a wide variety of flying insects, including butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, and wasps, captured on the wing in quick, agile sallies from a perch.
Coppery-chested Jacamars are diurnal and typically solitary or found in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks. Their primary foraging strategy involves perching conspicuously on exposed branches, waiting patiently before darting out in a swift sally to snatch flying insects fr...
The Coppery-chested Jacamar is endemic to the eastern foothills of the Andes in South America, primarily within a restricted range in Ecuador and northern Peru. In Ecuador, its distribution is concentrated in the provinces of Napo, Pastaza, and Morona-Santiago. In Peru, it is found in the departm...
Vulnerable
- The iridescent plumage of the Coppery-chested Jacamar is structural, meaning its dazzling colors are created by the microscopic structure of the feathers, not by pigments. - Despite their superficial resemblance to hummingbirds (due to iridescence and insectivorous diet), jacamars are not close...