What do jacamars eat in tropical forests?

In tropical forests, jacamars (family Galbulidae) primarily feed by fly-catching for large insects.12

These birds typically perch in trees along forest streams with their long, sharp bills tilted upward. From this vantage point, they dash out on whirring wings to capture prey—specifically insects such as butterflies and dragonflies—in mid-air. Once caught, the jacamar returns to its perch and pounds the insect before consuming it.1