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jacamar

jacamar

1 9.9
A small tropical American bird with a long sharp bill and shiny green or bronze feathers that eats insects
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒækəˌmɑr/
  • US
: jacamar
  • The jacamar quickly darted through the air, catching insects with its long, sharp bill before returning to its perch.

Examples

  • Crocker had wandered off the trail for a better look at a jacamar; otherwise, they'd never have found the hidden path, slanting down steeply between moss-slick walls.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Jorge, our tour guide, was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable naturalist. "Look at that Homed Screamer," "See that beautiful Chestnut Jacamar," and the "TCBB" (the cute little blue bird).

    Academic text (2005)
  • While hiking in the rainforest, we spotted a stunning jacamar perched on a branch, its iridescent feathers glimmering in the sunlight.

  • In the vibrant ecosystem of the tropics, the jacamar is known for its striking plumage and adept hunting skills.

Surface Forms

jacamar singular
jacamars plural

Etymology

Jacamar came into English from Brazilian Portuguese jacamar, which itself comes from a native Tupi word for the bird. That's why jacamar today names the shiny, long-billed tropical bird that catches flying insects.