Purplish Jacamar (Galbula chalcothorax)

Identification & Behavior: ~21.5 cm (8.4 in). Males Purplish Jacamars are iridescent bronzy-green, with a white throat, dark green head, and black bill. Females are duller with a buffy throat and dark iridescent underparts. The tail is gray. They forage in forest interior where they favor open mid story and edges of tree falls.  Similar to closely related Bronzy Jacamar, but their ranges do not overlap.

Status: The Purplish Jacamar is overall rare in the Amazonian lowlands and it is restricted to the northern half of the department of Loreto. It ranges farther south only along the west side of the lower Ucayali River. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Jacamar Purpúreo.

Sub-species: Purplish Jacamar (Galbula chalcothorax) Sclater,PL, 1855.

Meaning of Name: Galbula: Gr. Galbula= a small yellowish bird. chalcothorax: Gr. khalkos= bronze; and thorax= chest, chest; with bronze armor chest.

See more of the Family Galbulidae