AVITOPIA - Jacamars

The family of Jacamars is restricted to the tropics of Central and South America. The body length is 13 cm to 30 cm. Jacamars have short wings and long tails, the beak is long and almost straight. As with woodpeckers, the feet have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backwards. Their plumage is soft and often very iridescent. They are usually lively, live individually and eat almost exclusively insects. Their preferred prey are butterflies, which after being caught are hit against a branch until the wings break off. The nest is in a cavity that both partners dig in an embankment or a termite mound. 3 to 4 eggs are laid in the unpadded cave, which both parents incubate and take care of later.