The rufous-tailed jacamar is a near passerine bird which breeds in the tropical New World in southern Mexico, Central America and South America as far south as southern Brazil and Ecuador.
Region
Central and South America
Typical Environment
Found from southern Mexico through much of Central America into northern and central South America, reaching as far as Ecuador and southern Brazil. It favors forest edges, secondary growth, river corridors, clearings, and plantations rather than dense interior rainforest. Often seen along shaded trails and stream banks where earthen walls provide nesting sites. Readily adapts to human-altered landscapes with scattered trees and hedgerows.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous-tailed jacamar is a sit-and-wait aerial insect hunter that sallies out from shaded perches to snap flying insects mid-air. It often inhabits forest edges and riverbanks and nests in burrows it excavates in earthen banks or road cuts. Males show a crisp white throat, while females have a buffy throat, both contrasting with their metallic green upperparts and rich rufous tail and underparts.
Male G. r. melanogenia with a bee in Belize
Temperament
quiet and watchful
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with swift aerial sallies
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, often maintaining small territories along forest edges or waterways. Pairs excavate burrows in earthen banks or occasionally in arboreal termitaria for nesting. Both sexes participate in incubation and feeding of young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives high, clear whistles and thin peet or pee-pee notes from shaded perches. Songs can be a short, sweet series of rising whistles, often delivered at dawn and in calm conditions.
Plumage
Shimmering metallic green upperparts with rufous-cinnamon underparts and tail; sleek, elongated shape with long, straight bill. Male shows a sharp white throat; female’s throat is buffy or tawny.
Diet
Primarily takes flying insects such as butterflies, dragonflies, bees, wasps, and flies. Often returns to the same perch after each sally. It may subdue stinging insects by rubbing them on a branch before swallowing.
Preferred Environment
Hunts from low to mid-level perches along forest edges, stream corridors, clearings, gardens, and plantations. Prefers semi-open habitats with scattered trees and a good vantage perch.
