White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis)

Identification & Behavior: ~19.5 cm (7.6 in). The White-eared Jacamar is chestnut with conspicuous white ear patches. The feet are red and the bill is pink to red. It is distinguished from the closely related Purus Jacamar by the white ear patches. These two species replace each other geographically and are not known to overlap. They sit and wait on horizontal branches for passing insects they catch on the wing.

Status: Generally fairly common, but can be rare in portions of its range in Amazonia. Found in the department of Loreto where they favor scrub-like habitats with scattered trees along lake edges, swamps, forest edges, second growth, and river islands. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Jacamar de Oreja Blanca.

Sub-species: White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis) Des Murs, 1845.

Meaning of Name: Galbalcyrhynchus: L. Galbal in reference to Galbula= a small yellowish bird and rhynchus or rhunkhos= a dagger-like bill. leucotis: Gr. Leuco= white, Otis, ous, otus= ear, with an ear.

See more of the Family Galbulidae