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rufous-tailed jacamar
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Illustration of a rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) perched on a branch, showing its iridescent green head and back, white throat, orange underparts, and long rufous tail.
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rufous-tailed jacamar

bird
Also known as: Galbula ruficauda
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Illustration of a rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) perched on a branch, showing its iridescent green head and back, white throat, orange underparts, and long rufous tail.
rufous-tailed jacamar Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda).

The rufous-tailed jacamar is a species of tropical American bird belonging to the family Galbulidae. These birds are characterized by their glittering bodies, large heads, and, in most species, long, tapered tails. They often display iridescent blue, green, or bronze colors on their backs and breasts, with males having white throats and females brown throats.1

Jacamars are insectivorous and are known for their sharp, upward-tilted bills. They perch in trees along forest streams and then dart out to catch insects like butterflies and dragonflies in mid-air. The rufous-tailed jacamar, measuring about 25 cm (10 inches) long, is commonly found from southern Mexico to Argentina.21

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