Jacamars

17 species

The jacamars are small to medium-sized perching birds found from tropical South and Central America, extending up to Mexico. They live in low-altitude woodlands and forests, preferring forest edge and canopy. Jacamaras are elegant, glossy birds with long bills and tails. They take a variety of insect prey (many specialize on butterflies and moths) by hawking in the air. Jacamaras are thought to generally be monogamous. They nest in holes either in the soil or in arboreal termite mounds. Ground-nesting species usually nest in the banks of rivers (or, more recently, roads), although if these are not available they will nest in the soil held by the roots of fallen trees. Bank-nesting jacamars can sometimes be loosely colonial. Females lay between one and four eggs and both parents participate in incubation. Chicks hatch with down feathers which is unique among the piciformes.
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The jacamars are small to medium-sized perching birds found from tropical South and Central America, extending up to Mexico. They live in low-altitude woodlands and forests, preferring forest edge and canopy. Jacamaras are elegant, glossy birds with long bills and tails. They take a variety of insect prey (many specialize on butterflies and moths) by hawking in the air. Jacamaras are thought to generally be monogamous. They nest in holes either in the soil or in arboreal termite mounds. Ground-nesting species usually nest in the banks of rivers (or, more recently, roads), although if these are not available they will nest in the soil held by the roots of fallen trees. Bank-nesting jacamars can sometimes be loosely colonial. Females lay between one and four eggs and both parents participate in incubation. Chicks hatch with down feathers which is unique among the piciformes.
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