Bronzy Jacamar
Galbula leucogastra
Small, active, and locally distributed. Key field mark is overall bronzy color, which is evident in good light but hard to see otherwise. Found in low-stature forest and scrub on sandy soils. Small groups spend much time perched on bare branches, sallying for flying insects and returning to perches to eat them. Confusion is possible with Green-tailed Jacamar, but Bronzy is smaller, shorter-tailed, and lacks obvious green in plumage. Vocalizations include a distinctive, stuttering, rising series of notes.
Identification
The bronzy jacamar is 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) long and weighs 15 to 18 g (0.53 to 0.63 oz). The male's crown and face are dark metallic greenish blue. The rest of the upper parts and the breast are metallic bronzy green and sometimes have a slight purple gloss. It has a black chin and white throat and belly; the latter appears speckled with black. The female differs by having the sides of the face dark gray and the throat and belly buff or yellowish.
Taxonomy
The bronzy jacamar is monotypic. It and purplish jacamar (Galbula chalcothorax) were formerly considered conspecific; they now form a superspecies. Birds in eastern Brazil along the Tapajós River were suggested as a subspecies but were not accepted as such. In addition, the species is thought to have hybridized with green-tailed jacamar (G. galbula) in Suriname.
- Scientific name
- Galbula leucogastra
- Authority
- Vieillot, 1817
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Galbulidae
- Genus
- Galbula
Range and habitat
According to a 2016 map, the bronzy jacamar is found in southern Venezuela, far eastern Colombia, much of west-central Brazil, far northern Bolovia, and far southeastern Peru. However, there are eBird reports across southern Colombia and one in Ecuador since then that have not been further evaluated.<p>The bronzy jacamar is found in a wide variety of habitats. Cornell University's Birds of the World describes them as "Edges and clearings of primary and secondary terra firme and várzea (igapó) forests, white-sand campinarana in Amazonia, wooded savannas and (at least in coastal French Guiana) marshes scattered with woodlots, regularly along streams and rivers in lowlands; locally to 900 m [2950 ft]. Occurs locally in gallery forest, dry forest and cerrado in Brazil, where it occupies light undergrowth and open lower canopies."
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The bronzy jacamar's diet includes a wide variety of flying insects, but "perhaps fewer Lepidoptera or Odonata than do other Galbula species." It perches on exposed branches by itself or in small groups, typically between 2 and 10 m (6.6 and 32.8 ft) high, and sallies out to catch its prey. It sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.<p>Three bronzy jacamar nests have been described. Two of them were in arboreal termite nests and the third was in a epiphytic bromeliad on a tree trunk. At one in a termite nest both adults fed the nestling; at the bromeliad nest the female fed the nestlings.<p>The bronzy jacamar apparently has two songs. One is "ascending and accelerating whistling notes" that end with a trill [1]. The other is described as "weeee, weep-pip-pweeeeee, weep-pip-pweeeeee, weep-pip-pweeeeee" [2]. A call is [3].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sangkar White-eye
Zosterops melanurus
Typical-looking white-eye, with bright yellowish upperparts and bright white “spectacles.” Recently split from Oriental White-eye, to which it may still be referred to as in older literature. Throughout most of its range, this species has a yellow belly, but birds in the far western corner of Java have gray bellies. The only “classic white-eye” throughout much of its range; in areas of overlap with other species, Sangkar’s combination of dark eyes and a prominent dark stripe between the eye and bill base serve to identify it. Found in lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, gardens, and plantations. Calls include bright, descending “deee, deee.” Song is jumbled and high-pitched, and has made this species a sought-after target in the cagebird trade; as such, it is now uncommon or rare in certain areas of otherwise suitable habitat.
Peruvian Warbling-Antbird
Hypocnemis peruviana
Small streaked antbird. Black-and-white streaked head and underparts with a bold black eyeline and crown, brown wings and tail, and orange-red wash on the sides. Found in dense understory around forest edges and secondary growth; where it overlaps with Yellow-breasted Warbling-Antbird, largely restricted to the understory of mature rainforest, especially around tree fall gaps and along streams and ravines in upland areas. Compared to the similar Yellow-breasted Warbling-Antbird, usually has orange-red wash restricted to its sides (Yellow-breasted can be orangey but usually has extensive color on the throat and breast), and is found in mature forest habitats (not bamboo or riverside secondary growth). Song an accelerating, descending series of whistles that get rougher in tone, very similar to that of Yellow-breasted Warbling-Antbird.
Crimson Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Colorful rosella with blue cheek patches and highly variable plumage, occuring in crimson, yellow, and orange forms. Note diagnostic blue cheek regardless of form (the Green Rosella of Tasmania also has blue cheeks but the two species’ ranges do not normally overlap). Juvenile much greener than adult, attaining a blotched mixed plumage as they transition to adult. Found in a wide range of habitats in southeastern Australia. In many locations it is accustomed to humans and can be quite tame. Contact call is a familiar two-toned whistle.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.