JACAMAR, the Brazilian name of birds forming the family Galbulidae, with zygodactylous or pair-toed feet, and glossy white eggs. They are all rather small birds, the largest known being little over loin. in length, with long sharp bills, and the plumage with golden or bronze reflections. With the exception of Galbula melanogenia, which is found also in Central America, all the jacamars inhabit tropical South America east of the Andes, G. ruficauda, however, extending its range to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. They are seen sitting motionless on trees, whence they dart at any passing insect and, catching it on the wing, return to their perch.
The most obvious characteristic of the jacanas is the extraordinary length of their toes and claws, whereby they are enabled to walk with ease over water-lilies and other aquatic plants. The genus Parra inhabits South America ; Metopidius, hardly differing from it, has representatives in Africa, Madagascar and India; Hydra lector belongs to the north Australian region; and Hydrophasia nus, the most extravagant form of the whole, is found in India and China. The Parridae lay very peculiar eggs of a rich olive brown colour, in most cases closely marked with dark lines.