The jacamars are in the family, Galbulidae, with a range from tropical South and Central America, extending up to Mexico. The order contains five genera and 18 species. The family is closely related to the puffbirds and another Noetropical family, and the two families are often separated into their own order the Galbuliformes. They are principally birds of low altitude woodlands and forests, and particularly of forest edge and canopy.
The jacamars are small to medium sized perching birds. They are glossy elegant birds with long bills and tails. In appearance and behaviour they show resemblances to the Old World bee-eaters. The legs are short and weak, and the feet are zygodactyl with two toes facing in one direction and the other two in the opposite direction. Their plumage is often bright and highly iridescent, although it is quite dull in a few species. There are minor differences in plumage based on gender, males often having a white patch on the breast.
Jacamars are insectivores.
FAMILY: GABULIDAE
Genus: Galbalcyrhynchus
White-eared Jacamar, Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis
Purus Jacamar, Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus
Genus: Brachygalba
Dusky-backed Jacamar, Brachygalba salmoni
Pale-headed Jacamar, Brachygalba goeringi
Brown Jacamar, Brachygalba lugubris
White-throated Jacamar, Brachygalba albogularis
Genus: Jacamaralcyon
Three-toed Jacamar, Jacamaralcyon tridactyla
Genus: Galbula
Yellow-billed Jacamar, Galbula albirostris
Blue-necked Jacamar, Galbula cyanicollis
Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Galbula ruficauda
Green-tailed Jacamar, Galbula galbula
Coppery-chested Jacamar, Galbula pastazae
Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Galbula cyanescens
White-chinned Jacamar, Galbula tombacea
Purplish Jacamar, Galbula chalcothorax
Bronzy Jacamar, Galbula leucogastra
Paradise Jacamar, Galbula dea
Genus: Jacamerops
Great Jacamar, Jacamerops aureus