Purplish Jacamar
Galbula chalcothorax
Slender, long-billed rainforest bird. Mostly ranges in lowlands, but reaches the foothills of the eastern Andes in a few areas. Plumage color varies among individuals. Body ranges from deep coppery-chestnut to glittering golden-green (with only a tinge of chestnut). Head coloration ranges from blue to glittering greenish-blue. Throat stripe is white in male and buffy in female. Typically seen perched fairly high in the forest, occasionally sallying out to catch a passing insect.
Identification
The purplish jacamar is 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long and weighs 24.5 to 26.5 g (0.86 to 0.93 oz). The male's crown and face are blackish green and have a bluish sheen. The upper parts and breast vary from metallic reddish purple to a coppery red. It has a white throat and a belly that appears speckled black and white. The female differs by having yellow-brown or buff throat and belly.
Taxonomy
The purplish jacamar is monotypic. It and bronzy jacamar (Galbula leucogastra) were formerly considered conspecific; they now form a superspecies.
- Scientific name
- Galbula chalcothorax
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1855
- Order
- Galbuliformes
- Family
- Galbulidae
- Genus
- Galbula
Range and habitat
The purplish jacamar is found in the western Amazon Basin from southeast Colombia's Putumayo and Amazonas Departments south through eastern Ecuador into eastern Peru and east into Brazil as far as the Juruá River in Amazonas state. It inhabits edges, openings, and the canopy in terra firme forest, both primary and secondary. It is also found in woodland on sandy soils and along watercourses. It primarily ranges in elevation up to 500 m (1,600 ft) but has been found as high as 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Ecuador.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The purplish jacamar's diet has not been documented, but is assumed to be a variety of flying insects. It perches by itself or in small groups, mostly in the shrub layer, and sallies out to catch its prey. It sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.<p>No information is available about the purplish jacamar's breeding phenology.<p>The purplish jacamar's song is similar to that of other jacamars, a rising series "weeee weeee wi-deee wi-deee wi-deee wi-deee" that sometimes ends with a trill [1]. Its call is "weeee" [2].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tanahjampea Monarch
Symposiachrus everetti
A striking black-and-white flycatcher-like songbird confined to Tanahjampea Island. Black above, with a black hood and upper chest and a crisp white lower breast, belly, rump, and tips to outer tail feathers. Black areas are brown in juvenile, which has a buff belly and rump. Cocks tail regularly. Found singly or in pairs in forest, mangrove, and scrub in lowlands and foothills. Often joins mixed-species flocks. Unique within its tiny range. Song is a mournful, repeated whistle, “weeoo-weeoo...”. Also gives a rasping, agitated “grrr” and metallic, grating “weer” calls.
Scaly-throated Leaftosser
Sclerurus guatemalensis
Retiring inhabitant of humid tropical lowlands. Found singly, hopping on the ground in shady rainforest and tossing leaves with its bill, in search of insects and other morsels. Most often detected when disturbed or flushed, when it gives a sharp, whistled “skweek” call. Note the long and rather slender straight bill. Plumage is dark brown overall with paler mottling (not really scaling) on the throat and breast.
Ashy Prinia
Prinia socialis
A common prinia that is likely to occur in all habitats except for woodlands with a thick canopy. All birds have a black bill, pale cinnamon underparts, a gray head, and a grayish-brown back. Nonbreeding birds acquire a short eyebrow and a longer tail. There is a marked variation in plumage tones in various parts of its range. It usually sticks to the undergrowth and shrubbery, though individuals often sing from a higher perch such as wires. Usually occurring in ones and twos, and it can be quite bold and fearless. It has a loud ringing song that is given year-round and a plain nasal call.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.