Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Identification

The Rufous-tailed Jacamar is an elegant and unmistakable bird, typically 25 cm long with a notably long black bill measuring 5 cm. Its plumage is striking: metallic green upperparts contrast sharply with mainly orange underparts, including the undertail, though a distinctive green breast band breaks up the orange. Sexual dimorphism is subtle but useful for field identification—males display a white throat, while females have a buff throat and tend toward paler overall coloration. Some subspecies show regional variation: G. r. brevirostris features a shorter bill as its name suggests, while G. r. pallens exhibits a copper-coloured back in both sexes.

Range & Habitat

This near-passerine species is found throughout the tropical New World, breeding from southern Mexico through Central America and into South America, with its range extending as far south as southern Brazil and Ecuador. The Rufous-tailed Jacamar is a resident breeder inhabiting a variety of dry and moist woodlands and scrub habitats across this extensive range.

Behaviour & Diet

As a specialized insectivore, the Rufous-tailed Jacamar employs a distinctive hunting technique. It perches alertly with its bill tilted upward, then sallies forth to snatch flying insects from the air with precision. Its diet is remarkably varied, including flies, beetles, bees, dragonflies, butterflies, and notably social wasps such as Agelaia vicina. The bird demonstrates sophisticated feeding discrimination, distinguishing between edible and unpalatable butterfly species primarily by assessing their body shape.

During breeding season, females lay two to four rufous-spotted white eggs in burrows excavated in banks or termite mounds, making them ground nesters unlike many other tropical birds.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Rufous-tailed Jacamar's year-round resident status means it can be encountered throughout the year across its range. Look for this species in open and semi-open woodland and scrub habitats from southern Mexico south through Central America and into the Amazon Basin. Its preference for perching prominently while hunting makes it relatively conspicuous compared to many tropical forest birds, particularly during early morning hours when insect activity peaks.

Photography Tips

Photographers should position themselves to capture the bird's characteristic hunting posture—perched with bill tilted upward—as this distinctive behaviour makes for compelling images. The metallic green and vibrant orange plumage is best rendered in clear, direct morning light. Since the bird sallies out to catch flying insects, anticipate these brief aerial moments and use a fast shutter speed. The sexual differences in throat colour and underpart intensity, while subtle, are worth documenting. The bird's sharp call—a distinctive "pee-op"—can help locate individuals in dense vegetation.