Sightings
We had two sightings of Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda, one on each of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. This sighting on Tobago was made along the Trace Gilpin Trail of the Tobago Forest Reserve. The Main Ridge Forest Reserve of 3,958 hectares was proclaimed in 1776 when it was realised that deforestation was seriously impacting the island’s supplies of fresh water. It is thought to be the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere (and possibly on earth? / jc).
Species
Jacamars are one of my favourite bird families with eighteen species. Rufous-tailed Jacamar is the most commonly seen based on my sightings in several south and central American countries. This insectivore hunts from a perch, sitting with its bill tilted upwards, then flies out to catch insects. It sits quietly with its bill typically pointed upwards as in this photograph.
Status and Distribution
Rufous-tailed Jacamar is a species of least concern but its population is thought to be decreasing. It breeds in the tropical New World in southern Mexico, Central America and South America as far south as southern Brazil and Ecuador. It is an uncommon resident on Trinidad and much more common on Tobago.
References
BirdLife; Wikipedia; Worldbirdnames; Kenefick, M., Restall, R., and Hayes, F. (2015) Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 170.
Photograph
Taken at close range in dark forest the bird being in deep shade with bright light on the leaves in the background. The camera settings were 1/100th second, f5.0 and ISO 2500.
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Location: Trace Gilpin Trail Tobago
Family: Jacamars (Galbulidae)
Species: Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda)
Date taken: 14/05/2017