Purplish jacamar
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Galbula chalcothorax

The purplish jacamar (Galbula chalcothorax ) is a species of bird in the family Galbulidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Appearance

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.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

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.

Purplish jacamar habitat map
Purplish jacamar habitat map
Purplish jacamar
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Diet and Nutrition

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.

Mating Habits

No information is available about the purplish jacamar's breeding phenology.

Population

Population number

The IUCN has assessed the purplish jacamar as being of Least Concern. However, it is not well known and appears to be generally uncommon. "It is probably threatened to some extent by forest degradation and habitat loss."

References

1. Purplish jacamar Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purplish_jacamar
2. Purplish jacamar on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22682215/92935593
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/624772

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