The Story
I photographed this White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis) at the Malecón Turístico, the riverfront promenade of San José del Guaviare, Guaviare, Colombia, in February 2021. It is 18 to 21 centimeters long and weighs 44 to 50 grams. Juveniles are paler than adults and have shorter bills. It was once lumped with the Purus Jacamar as a single species, the Chestnut Jacamar, but the two are now recognized as separate species. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Canon R5 and the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L, at 1/125 sec, f/6.7, ISO 800. San José del Guaviare is often called the gateway to the Colombian Amazon, and fast boats from the town reach the Raudal del Guayabero, about 38 kilometers away.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The White-eared Jacamar (Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis) belongs to the family Galbulidae (Jacamars) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List