A closer look: Hummingbird vs Jacamar!

When you take a quick look at these pictures, you will think that they are related to each other…. pointy long beaks, shimmering colors and also small birds. But they are not related to each other; one is a hummingbird (Crimson Topaz) and the other is a Jacamar (Green-tailed Jacamar)

Jacamars are members of the family Galbulidae. They spend most of the day perched (inactive) waiting for flying-by insects or butterflies to snatch in mid air and return to the same spot. 

Hummingbirds on the other hand are members of the family Trochilidae. Unlike jacamars, hummingbirds are small active ones. They also have a unique way of flying: they are the only ones who can fly on the spot, reverse and shoot away. Their main course are nectar and insects. 

Jacamars nest in deep burrows, dug into riverbanks or in termite nests in trees. Both male and female are responsible for the incubation and taking care of the chicks.

The female hummingbird is solely responsible for the incubation and for taking care of her young birds. 

Brown Jacamar (left) and Fork-tailed wood nymph -female- (right)

The smallest jacamar I've seen (in Kabalebo) is the Brown Jacamar (Brachygalba lugubris) with a length of 14 cm.
The largest jacamar I've seen (in Kabalebo) is the Great Jacamar (Jacamerops aureus) with a length of 30 cm.

The smallest hummingbird: Amethyst Woodstar (Calliphlox amethystina) 6 cm long.
The largest hummingbird: Crimson Topaz (Topaza pella) 18 cm.

Crimson Topaz (left) and Green-tailed Jacamar (right)

On the bright side: both share shimmering colors (except for the Brown Jacamar) and are therefore known as the jewels of the forests.

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