Jacamar, << JAK uh mahr, >> is the name of a group of long-beaked birds that live from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Jacamars resemble large hummingbirds but are more closely related to woodpeckers. They grow 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 centimeters) in length. Many species have shiny green plumage with reddish or brownish undersides, but some kinds are brownish in color.
Jacamars inhabit a variety of environments, from rain forests to dry grasslands. They hunt and eat such insects as butterflies and wasps. The birds will catch prey in the air with their bills, and then kill the victims by repeatedly knocking them against branches. A few jacamars perform complex songs that include a variety of high pitched notes and trills. Most species nest in burrows or holes in the ground, which they dig out with their bills and feet. A few kinds may even nest in termite mounds. Females lay two to four eggs. In most species, both parents feed and tend to the young.
