Purus jacamar

Purus jacamar
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Galbulidae
Genus: Galbalcyrhynchus
Species:
G. purusianus
Binomial name
Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus
Goeldi, 1904

The Purus jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus) is a species of bird in the family Galbulidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.[2][3]

Taxonomy and systematics

The Purus jacamar shares genus Galbalcyrhynchus with the white-eared jacamar (G. leucotis). They were originally treated a separate species, then as conspecific ("chestnut jacamar"), but are now understood to be separate species.[4] The Purus jacamar is monotypic.[2]

Description

The Purus jacamar is 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighs 50 g (1.8 oz). It is stouter than many jacamars, and has a more robust bill. It is almost entirely chestnut, with dark bronzy forehead, crown, wings, and tail. The juvenile is paler and its bill is shorter.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Purus jacamar is found in the upper Amazon Basin of eastern Peru, western Brazil, and northern Bolivia. In this humid region, it inhabits terra firme and várzea forest, both primary and secondary. It prefers edges such as along waterways and oxbow lakes.[3]

Behavior

Feeding

The Purus jacamar preys on insects, with Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) and Isoptera (termites) favored. It perches at mid- to upper canopy height singly or in small groups and sallies out to capture its prey.[3]

Breeding

The Purus jacamar has been documented excavating cavities in termite nests high in trees in Brazil and Peru. It is apparently a cooperative breeder, as the Peru cavity was excavated by six individuals and groups of up to six individuals have been noted singing together.[3]

Vocalization

The Purus jacamar's vocalizations are essentially identical to those of white-eared jacamar. The song is a rising trill [1] and the calls "a series of loud 'peeeur' whistles and a sharp 'pee'” [2].[3]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Purus jacamar as being of Least Concern.[1] It ranges from scarce in Peru to locally common in Brazil and "[a]pparently tolerates disturbed and partially man-modified habitats, and no specific threats are known."[3]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2018). "Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22682170A130076817. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22682170A130076817.en. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Tobias, J., T. Züchner, T.A. de Melo Júnior, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Purus Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.purjac2.01 retrieved May 9, 2021
  4. ^ Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021