Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية

Mountain Caracara

A species of andean and Southern South American Caracaras
Scientific name : Phalcoboenus megalopterus Genus : andean and Southern South American Caracaras

Mountain Caracara, A species of andean and Southern South American Caracaras
Botanical name: Phalcoboenus megalopterus
Genus: andean and Southern South American Caracaras
Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Photo By Eliasquispe , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

A medium-sized caracara with a faintly blue beak tip turning to bright orange, strongly contrasted by the jet-black feathers of its head, back and chest. Its rump, belly and upper tail and undertail coverts are pure white, changing sharply from black to white between the belly and chest. Its black wings have small white shoulder patches and it has white spots on some of its outer primaries. In the 1960s, 17 individual birds were caught and measured and it was noted that the species wing length could range from 358 to 403 mm, giving them a medium-sized wing for a caracara, but a comparatively short tail. Despite an important food source being carcasses, the Mountain Caracara's head and throat remain feathered (unlike some vultures), and only its lores are kept naked. Its legs are yellow and the males and females look similar, while the juveniles are brown.
Size
55 cm
Nest Placement
Cliff
Feeding Habits
Mountain Caracara are opportunistic feeders, consuming carrion, insects up to 94%, small animals, and arthropods. They exhibit ground foraging, rock flipping, group hunting, and scavenging near human habitation for refuse, adapting to diverse environments for feeding.
Habitat
Mountain Caracaras are endemic to South America and are found throughout several countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Argentina. They prefer unforested regions where they can perch on power poles or fence posts to overlook a large area. They are usually grouped near cities and along highways.
Dite type
Carnivorous

General Info

Feeding Habits

Bird food type

Distribution Area

Mountain Caracaras are endemic to South America and are found throughout several countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Argentina. They prefer unforested regions where they can perch on power poles or fence posts to overlook a large area. They are usually grouped near cities and along highways.

Species Status

Not globally threatened.
Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) Photo By Eliasquispe , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Download Picture Bird
Identify any bird by photo or sound in seconds
Cookie Management Tool
In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us to improve our application/website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_ga Google Analytics These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. 1 Year
_pta PictureThis Analytics We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_ga
Source
Google Analytics
Purpose
These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_pta
Source
PictureThis Analytics
Purpose
We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.
Lifespan
1 Year
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_fbp Facebook Pixel A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here. 1 Year
_adj Adjust This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_fbp
Source
Facebook Pixel
Purpose
A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_adj
Source
Adjust
Purpose
This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year
Download