Paradise Jacamar (Galbula dea)

Paradise Jacamar (Galbula dea)

Brazil

The Paradise Jacamar has a distinctive silhouette with it needle-like bill and its long, stiletto shaped tail. At a distance, it looks black with a white throat but its crown is a browny colour and its wings are a bronzy-green.

The Paradise Jacamar is normally found in the forest canopy (often perched on dead branches) in comparison with the greener members of the genus such as Green-tailed Jacamar, G. galbula and Rufous-tailed Jacamar, G. ruficauda, which are to be found low down in the forest.

There are 4 sub-species which differ slightly in length of wing, bill and tail and in the colour of the crown.

The first 2 photos were taken north of Manaus and should be of the nominate race but this is described as having a dark brown crown whereas I would say that this bird has a fairly pale brown crown which would indicate more that it belongs to the race brunneiceps (which, north of the Amazon, is found west of the rio Negro, wheareas this photo was taken east of that river.)

Paradise Jacamar, Thaimaçu, Pará, Brazil, April 2003 - click for larger image

The third photo was taken at Thaimaçu in southern Pará where the race is amazonum which has a shorter tail and a light brown crown with whitish tips to the feathers. The 4th photo was taken near Humaitá west of the rio Madeira in western Amazonas where the race is phainopepla which has a more extensive white throat.

Paradise Jacamar, near Humaitá, Amazonas, Brazil, March 2003 - click for larger image

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 7, Pages 81 and 98; and in Hilty & Brown, Plate 19.

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.