Coppery-chested Jacamar

Identification

The coppery-chested jacamar is a small bird, measuring 23 to 24 cm in length and weighing approximately 31 to 32 grams. Males are striking, with a metallic green crown glossed with blue, while the rest of the upperparts display a metallic bronzy-green plumage. The throat and breast are shiny green, contrasting with the dark rufous belly and vent area. Females are similar to males but distinguished by their dark rufous chin and throat, giving them a subtly different appearance from their male counterparts.

Range & Habitat

This species is effectively endemic to Ecuador, though records exist from a single site in far southern Colombia (El Carmen, Nariño Department) and far northern Peru (upper Comaina River, Amazonas Department). The coppery-chested jacamar inhabits humid montane forests on the eastern slope of the Andes, typically between 750 and 1,500 meters elevation. It is an understory bird, preferring forest edges, watercourses, tree falls, and landslide openings where vegetation is less dense.

Behaviour & Diet

Like other jacamars, the coppery-chested jacamar is insectivorous, though few details about its specific diet and feeding methods have been documented. The species is known to nest in burrows excavated in earth banks, though breeding biology remains poorly studied. Vocally, it produces a distinctive rising series of wee notes that sometimes end in a descending rattle, and utters single weet notes or series of them as calls.

Best Time & Places to See It

The coppery-chested jacamar is uncommon throughout its range and most reliably found in Ecuador along the eastern Andean slope within humid montane forests. Searching along forest edges, watercourses, and natural forest openings offers the best chances of encountering this species. Birdwatchers should listen for its distinctive vocalizations, which can help locate this elusive understory bird.

Photography Tips

The metallic plumage of the coppery-chested jacamar presents both opportunities and challenges for photographers. Capturing the iridescent quality of the green crown and bronzy-green upperparts requires attention to lighting angles—sidelight often reveals the metallic sheen more effectively than direct overhead light. The bird's preference for understory habitats and forest edges means photographers should be prepared for lower light conditions and work with patience, as the species is uncommon and can be difficult to locate.