Brachygalba goeringi
The Pale-headed Jacamar (*Brachygalba goeringi*) is a striking insectivorous bird endemic to the northern reaches of South America, known for its distinctive appearance and specialized hunting technique. Measuring approximately 18 cm (7 inches) in length, this species is characterized by its glossy dark greenish-bronze to blackish upperparts, contrasting sharply with a pale buffy-white to tawny head and neck, which gives the bird its common name. Its long, slender, and pointed bill is perfect...
Found in the edges of humid evergreen forests, secondary growth, forest clearings, and coffee plantations, typically at elevations ranging from near sea level up to 1200 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of large flying insects including butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, wasps, and beetles, caught in mid-air.
The Pale-headed Jacamar is a diurnal and often conspicuous bird, frequently perching on exposed branches for extended periods, surveying its surroundings. Its primary foraging strategy involves 'sallying' - darting out from its perch to capture flying insects, often returning to the same or a nea...
The Pale-headed Jacamar is endemic to northern South America, with its primary distribution encompassing northern Venezuela and northeastern Colombia. In Venezuela, it is found along the Cordillera de la Costa and the Andean foothills, extending eastward into the states of Sucre and Monagas. In C...
Least Concern
- The Pale-headed Jacamar belongs to the order Piciformes, which also includes woodpeckers, toucans, and barbets, showcasing a fascinating evolutionary divergence in form and function. - Its scientific name honors the German ornithologist Georg Goering, who collected specimens in Venezuela. - Jac...