Green-tailed Jacamar Galbula galbula Scientific name definitions

Restricted to the Guiana Shield, from which region the Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) is largely absent, these two species possess very similar plumage, although the Green-tailed Jacamar has an all-dark, rather than rufous, undertail. In the small region of apparent sympatry, in parts of Guyana and French Guiana, the two species are thought to segregate according to habitat, with the present species being found in riverine situations and hilly areas, while Rufous-tailed Jacamar occupies savannas. Elsewhere, the Green-tailed Jacamar is found at the borders, natural or man-made, of a wide variety of woodland types, where it usually perches at low to mid levels.

18–22 cm; 18–29 g. Male has upperparts and chestband shining metallic coppery green, usually more bluish on crown and sides of head; primaries dull black; tail relatively short and very rounded, metallic  ­bluish-green; chin blackish, throat white (sometimes sparsely speckled green), lower under­parts and underwing-coverts rufous-chestnut; undertail dusky, tinged bluish; bill very long, 4·6–5·2 cm (3·4–4·7 cm from nostril), slender, all black; iris dark brown; bare eyering blackish-grey; feet brownish-yellow, black claws. Female similar, but has throat and chin buff, underparts slightly duller and paler. Immature not described.

E Colombia (Vichada, Meta), S & E Venezuela (S of R Orinoco), the Guianas and N Brazil (S to lower reaches of R Madeira and R Tapajós).

Borders (but not interior) of humid terra firme, várzea, gallery and secondary forest, mangroves, bushy marshland, coffee plantations, most often in open woodland, savanna and shrubby areas, along streams and rivers , and on lightly forested (including sandy) ridges; from coastal regions to 700 m. Perches from lower to middle levels. Occupies similar niche to that of G. ruficauda, and the two usually exclude each other in areas of contact; where sympatric, in small areas of Guyana and French Guiana, they are thought to be separated ecologically, present species frequenting riverine habitat and hilly areas, while the locally rarer G. ruficauda is associated with extensive savannas; their ranges are parapatric in S Venezuela, the former frequenting forested hills and the latter occupying adjacent dry llanos savanna.

Sedentary.

Predominantly Hymenoptera (e.g. Ichneumonidae), but also Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera  (Brachycera), Coleoptera (e.g. Chrysomelidae, Lamellicornia), also Odonata including damselfies (Zygoptera) and Libellulidae, Orthemis ferruginea, Micrathyria. Perches , often in pairs, on exposed branches ; sallies to catch flying insects. Probably more active foraging than G. dea, with perhaps around 40 forays per hour, and much more rapid head movements while perched.

Song accelerating “peeo peeo peea pee-pee-pee-pee-pe-pe-pe-e-e-e-e’e’e’e”, ending in sharp trill; call a frequently repeated “peep” or “peer”, sometimes doubled or in series but not terminating with trill; occasionally “daw-dit-dot-dit”.

Breeds in Feb–Mar in Venezuela, in May–Jun and Aug in Surinam, and in Apr and Sept in Brazil. Burrow excavated in low bank or arboreal termitarium; in Surinam, 3 individuals (2 males, 1 female) observed excavating in an arboreal termitarium 3 m above ground. No information on clutch size or on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Generally common, at least in coastal portions of its range and in river valleys of S Venezuela (e.g. R Orinoco, R Caura, R Paragua). The commonest jacamar in coastal Surinam. Occurs in several protected areas throughout range, e.g Imataca Forest Reserve and El Dorado, in Venezuela, Voltzberg-Raleigh Falls Reserve, in Surinam, and Tapajós National Park, in Brazil.