Three of the four species of Brachygalba jacamar occupy small ranges, and the Pale-headed Jacamar is one of these, being confined to a relatively tiny area of northeast Colombia and adjacent northwest Venezuela. It is largely restricted to the true lowlands, although locally it ranges to above 1000 m, and is typically found at the edges of galley, secondary, and deciduous woodlands, especially in llanos. Unlike many jacamars, including some congenerics, which are generally found perched high above the ground, the Pale-headed Jacamar seems to occupy a different niche, as it is usually observed close to ground level. Only one other Galbulidae is found in sympatry with the present species, the much more widespread and quite differently plumaged Rufous-tailed Jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) making field identification easy.

Recommended Citation

. 2010. Pale-headed Jacamar (Brachygalba goeringi), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=294136