It and the yellow-billed jacamar (Galbula albirostris) were at one time considered conspecific but have been treated as a superspecies since approximately 1974.

The face is steely blue to green on an east to west gradient.

[3] The blue-necked jacamar occurs east of the Andes and south of the Amazon River.

It perches on exposed branches and sallies from there to catch its flying prey.

However, "Owing to its greater reliance on intact forest understorey, this species, as G. albirostris, is likely to be more susceptible to deforestation than are most other jacamars.