| Galbula | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Adult femalerufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda melanogenia) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Piciformes |
| Family: | Galbulidae |
| Genus: | Galbula Brisson, 1760 |
| Type species | |
| Alcedo galbula Linnaeus, 1766 | |
| Species | |
10, see text | |
Galbula is thetype and largestgenus of thejacamarfamily (Galbulidae) ofpiciformbirds, and itssuborder Galbulae. Sometimes, the Piciformes are split in two, with the Galbulae upranked to fullorder Galbuliformes.[1]
Thegenus was introduced by the French zoologistMathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with thegreen-tailed jacamar (Galbula galbula) as thetype species.[2][3] The namegalbula is the Latin word for a small yellow bird.[4]
They are smallish to mid-sized forest birds of theNeotropics, with long pointed bills, elongated tails, and small feet. Colored in metalliciridescent hues – typically greenish – at least on the upperside, some have a red or brownish belly. Males and females are generally similar in appearance, but in most species differ in minor plumage details. As usual for Piciformes, they nest in burrows they dig out themselves. In the case of this genus, nests are dug in earthen banks along rivers or roads, or intermitaria. As with other jacamars but otherwise unknown among Piciformes, their chicks do not hatch naked. They have a piping song and feed in typical jacamar fashion, by catching flyingarthropods, typically largerinsects such hasbutterflies.[1]
MostGalbulaspecies are fairly common in their natural range, which despite rampantdeforestation is still extensive. Only thecoppery-chested jacamar (G. pastazae) occurs in a more restricted region in theAndes foothills, and is considered athreatened species.[1]
Ten livingspecies are presently recognized in this genus:[5]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | Galbula albirostris | Yellow-billed jacamar | Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela |
 | Galbula cyanicollis | Blue-necked jacamar | Amazon rainforest of Brazil, far northern Bolivia and eastern Peru |
| Galbula ruficauda | Rufous-tailed jacamar | southern Mexico, Central America and South America as far south as southern Brazil and Ecuador |
%3b_Anavilhanas_islands%2c_Novo_Air%25C3%25A3o%2c_Amazonas%2c_Brazil.jpg) | Galbula galbula | Green-tailed jacamar | Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela |
 | Galbula pastazae | Coppery-chested jacamar | southern Colombia, Ecuador and far northern Peru |
 | Galbula cyanescens | Bluish-fronted jacamar | western Amazon Basin of Brazil, Peru and far northwestern Bolivia. |
 | Galbula tombacea | White-chinned jacamar | Amazon Basin of Colombia, Amazonas and northern parts of Ecuador and Peru |
 | Galbula chalcothorax | Purplish jacamar | western Amazon Basin of Ecuador, Peru, southern Colombia and western parts of Acre and Amazonas |
.jpg) | Galbula leucogastra | Bronzy jacamar | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela |
 | Galbula dea | Paradise jacamar | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Guyanas |
Afossil species,Galbula hylochoreutes, has been described from the mid-Miocene ofColombia. It was apparently morespecialized for aerial feeding than the living species.[6]
