View source for Jacamar

{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{for|the US warships|USS Jacamar}}
{{Automatic Taxobox
| name = Jacamars
| taxon = Galbulidae
| image= Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) male 2.JPG
| image_caption= [[Rufous-tailed jacamar]] (''Galbula ruficauda'') 
| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]], 1825
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = 
''[[Galbalcyrhynchus]]'' <br />
''[[Brachygalba]]'' <br />
''[[Jacamaralcyon]]'' <br />
''[[Galbula]]'' <br />
''[[Jacamerops]]''
}}

The '''jacamars''' are a [[family (biology)|family]], '''Galbulidae''', of birds from tropical [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]], extending up to [[Mexico]]. The family contains five [[genus|genera]] and 18 species. The family is closely related to the [[puffbird]]s, another [[Neotropical]] family, and the two families are often separated into their own order, '''Galbuliformes''', separate from the [[Piciformes]]. They are principally birds of low-altitude woodlands and forests, and particularly of forest edge and [[forest canopy|canopy]].

==Taxonomy==
{{See also|List of jacamars}}
The placement of the combined puffbird and jacamar lineage was in question, with some bone and muscle features suggesting they may be more closely related to the [[Coraciiformes]]. However, analysis of nuclear DNA in a 2003 study placed them as sister group to the rest of the Piciformes, also showing that the groups had developed zygodactyl feet before separating.<ref name=Johansson>{{cite journal|author1=Johansson, Ulf S.|author2=Ericson, Per G.P.|title=Molecular support for a sister group relationship between Pici and Galbulae (Piciformes ''sensu'' Wetmore 1960|doi=10.1034/j.1600-048X.2003.03103.x|url=http://www.nrm.se/download/18.4e32c81078a8d9249800021325/Johansson%2520%26%2520Ericson%2520-%2520Piciformes%5B1%5D.pdf|year=2003|journal=Journal of Avian Biology|volume=34|issue=2|pages=185|access-date=2014-12-09|archive-date=2018-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004210235/http://www.nrm.se/download/18.4e32c81078a8d9249800021325/Johansson%2520%26%2520Ericson%2520-%2520Piciformes%5B1%5D.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Per Ericson and colleagues, in analysing genomic DNA, confirmed that puffbirds and jacamars were sister groups and their place in Piciformes.<ref name=ericson2006a>{{Cite journal | last1 = Ericson | first1 = P. G. P. | last2 = Anderson | first2 = C. L. | last3 = Britton | first3 = T.| last4 = Elzanowski | first4 = A. | last5 = Johansson | first5 = U. S. | last6 = Källersjö | first6 = M. | last7 = Ohlson | first7 = J. I. | last8 = Parsons | first8 = T. J. | last9 = Zuccon | first9 = D. | doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0523 | last10 = Mayr | first10 = G. | title = Diversification of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils | journal = Biology Letters | volume = 2 | issue = 4 | pages = 543–547 | year = 2006 | pmid =  17148284| pmc =1834003 }}</ref>

The phylogenetic relationship between the jacamars and the eight other families in the order Piciformes is shown in the cladogram below.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Kuhl | first1=H. | last2=Frankl-Vilches | first2=C. | last3=Bakker | first3=A. | last4=Mayr | first4=G. | last5=Nikolaus | first5=G. | last6=Boerno | first6=S.T. | last7=Klages | first7=S. | last8=Timmermann | first8=B. | last9=Gahr | first9=M. | date=2021 | title=An unbiased molecular approach using 3′-UTRs resolves the avian family-level tree of life | journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution | volume=38 | issue=1 | pages=108-127 | doi=10.1093/molbev/msaa191 | doi-access=free | hdl=21.11116/0000-0007-B72A-C | hdl-access=free | pmc=7783168 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Stiller | first1=J. | display-authors=etal | year=2024 | title=Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes | journal=Nature | volume=629 | issue= | pages=851-860 | doi=10.1038/s41586-024-07323-1 | doi-access=free | pmc=11111414 }}</ref> The number of species in each family is taken from the list maintained by [[Frank Gill (ornithologist)|Frank Gill]], [[Pamela C. Rasmussen]] and David Donsker on behalf of the [[International Ornithological Committee]] (IOC).<ref>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=December 2023 | title=IOC World Bird List Version 14.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=17 June 2024 }}</ref>
{{Clade| style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%
|label1=[[Piciformes]]
|1={{clade
   |1={{clade
      |1='''Galbulidae''' – jacamars (18 species)
      |2=[[Bucconidae]] – puffbirds (38 species)
       }}
   |2={{clade
      |1={{clade
         |1=[[Indicatoridae]] – honeyguides (16 species)
         |2=[[Picidae]] – woodpeckers (240 species)
         }}
      |2={{clade
         |1=[[Megalaimidae]] – Asian barbets (35 species)
         |2={{clade
            |1=[[Lybiidae]] – African barbets (42 species)
            |2={{clade
               |1=[[Capitonidae]] – New World barbets (15 species)
               |2={{clade
                  |1=[[Semnornithidae]] – toucan barbets (2 species)
                  |2=[[Ramphastidae]] – toucans (43 species)
                  }}
               }}
            }}
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}

==Description==
The jacamars are small to medium-sized perching birds, {{Convert|14|-|34|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing {{Convert|17|-|75|g|abbr=on}}. They are elegant, glossy birds with long bills and tails.  In appearance and behaviour they resemble the Old World [[bee-eater]]s, as most aerial insectivores tend to have short, wide bills rather than long, thin ones. The legs are short and weak, and the feet are [[Dactyly#In birds|zygodactylic]] (two forward-pointing toes, two backward-pointing). Their [[plumage]] is often bright and highly [[iridescence|iridescent]], although it is quite dull in a few species. There are minor differences in plumage [[sexual dimorphism|based on sex]], males often having a white patch on the breast.<ref name ="HBW">Tobias, J.; Züchner T. & T.A. de Melo Júnior (2002) "Family Galbulidae (Jacamars)". in del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (2002). ''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]]. Volume '''7''': Jacamars to Woodpeckers''. Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|84-87334-37-7}}</ref>

==Behaviour==

===Diet and feeding===
Jacamars are [[insectivore]]s, taking a variety of [[insect]] prey (many specialize on [[lepidopterans|butterflies and moths]]) by [[Hawking (birds)|hawking]] in the air. Birds sit in favoured perches and sally towards the prey when it is close enough. Only the [[great jacamar]] varies from the rest of the family, taking prey by [[Gleaning (birds)|gleaning]] and occasionally taking small lizards and spiders.<ref name ="HBW"/>

===Breeding===
The breeding systems of jacamars have not been studied in depth. They are thought to generally be [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]], although a few species are thought to engage in cooperative breeding sometimes, with several adults sharing duties. The family nests in holes either in the soil or in arboreal [[Termite#Mounds|termite mounds]]. Ground-nesting species usually nest in the banks of rivers (or, more recently, roads), although if these are not available they will nest in the soil held by the roots of fallen trees. Bank-nesting jacamars can sometimes be loosely [[bird colony|colonial]]. Clutch sizes are between one and four eggs, and usually more than one. Both parents participate in [[avian incubation|incubation]]. Little is known about the incubation times of most species, but it lasts between 19 and 26 days in the [[rufous-tailed jacamar]]. Chicks are born with down feathers, unique among the piciformes.<ref name ="HBW"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Piciformes}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q212942}}

[[Category:Galbulidae| ]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors]]