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Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) at New Island, Falkland Islands, February 2025

Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) at New Island, Falkland Islands, February 2025

Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) at New Island, Falkland Islands, February 2025

Fortunately, I didn't have to crop this photo of a striated caracara at all (locals call them Johnny Rooks). The crop being referenced is the yellow bulge at the base of the throat, just above the breast. The skin around the crop sticks out and forms a well defined bulge, showing through the bird's feathers. That only happens when the bird is well fed.

This individual has been banded. The number shows as G60. I think there may be another band, or more info on this one. I haven't been able to find any history on the bird as of yet. It appears to be a British band. For this bird, I believe there is a small metal band on the other leg. None of my photos shows it. Reporting is done via email for Falkland Island birds. I also have pics of V15.

The photo was taken on a different island than my previous caracara post. This one is from Carcass Island.

This striated caracara sits perched atop a large rock in the middle of the rookery where I photographed black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguins. It routinely flew slowly over the colony or viewed the colony from a lookout such as this, hoping to spot unguarded eggs or chicks, or dead birds.

They have a wide ranging diet: 'Recorded prey species include penguin adults and chicks, brown skua, seal pups such as the South American fur seal and Southern elephant seal, blackish cinclodes, various shellfish, and eggs from nesting seabirds including penguins, cormorants; among many other species.' That was from Wikipedia.

There were also a number of turkey vultures frequenting the area.

The Striated Caracara is much rarer than most visitors to the Falklands realise. That's because they are totally indifferent to humans and often hang around seabird colonies and human settlements. It used to be widespread in the Falklands but its habit of predating young lambs led to heavy persecution and was extirpated from all but a few smaller, outer islands. It was protected by law in 1999 and the numbers have recovered a little, but it still hasn't returned to its former range. I should say that about 400 pairs exist on islands in Tierra del Fuego at the extreme tip of South America. On the Falklands the population was down to 206 pairs in 1986 but after protection it had risen to 605 pairs by 2014. But currently the total world population is probably only about 1000 pairs. IUCN classify it as near threatened. This was photographed of Carcass Island where about 27 pairs breed.

Caracaras are very closely related to falcons, but not to other birds of prey. DNA studies have shown without doubt that Caracaras and Falcons are not closely related to Eagles and Hawks, but their predatory life has led to similarities through convergent evolution. This is bit like Guillemots and Penguins looking the same because of a similar lifestyle. So who are Caracaras closely related to? Almost unbelievably it is Parrots. Parrots, Caracaras and Falcons share large sequences of highly conserved genes within their genome that are markedly different from other birds of prey. This explains why up-to-date field guides and checklists place Falcons and Caracaras in a different place from Eagles and Hawks.

Striated Caracara is now a very rare bird that is classified as "near threatened". It breeds on a few islands off Tierra del Fuego but is commonest on the Falkland Islands. But the numbers on the Falklands are massively depleted so the population there is only around 500 pairs. They are totally indifferent to humans, which led to their downfall when formerly sheep farmers perceived them as a problem to livestock. But it is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion around seabird colonies, especially penguins. But they will also prey on weak or injured creatures, including new-born lambs, which led to conflict.

Incidentally the name Caracara is a Tupi word for this family of birds, and striated refers to those pale streaks on the chest. Its scientific name Phalcoboenus australis translates as Southern Walking Falcon. I photographed this adult near a penguin colony on Saunders Island in the Falkland Islands.

Le Caracara montagnard (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) est une espèce d'oiseaux appartenant à la famille des Falconidae.
Les Falconidés sont une famille de rapaces diurnes de taille petite à moyenne, comportant les caracaras et les faucons.


Merci beaucoup à tous pour votre gentil commentaire et vos favoris très appréciés - bien cordialement ! au plaisir !

Thank you very much to all for your kind comment and your very appreciated favorites - well cordially - au plaisir -

Herzlichen Dank an alle für Ihren freundlichen Kommentar und Ihre beliebten Favoriten - herzlich! zum Vergnügen !

Au sommet du Rucu Pichincha, les Caracara caronculés (Phalcoboenus carunculatus) s'intriguent des randonneurs et grimpeurs parvenant à se hisser jusqu'ici.

NCBP Duncombe at Helmsley

NCBP Duncombe at Helmsley

NCBP Duncombe at Helmsley

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family:Falconidae
Genus:Milvago
Species:M. chimango

Santa Regina, Colonia, Uruguay

• Chimango caraca / Chimango

Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family:Falconidae
Genus:Milvago
Species:M. chimango

Santa Regina, Colonia, Uruguay

The most extraordinary thing about caracaras is their brain which gives them a corvid-like intelligence. The Striated Caracara is fairly common locally on the Falkland Islands, where it is known as the Johnny Rook. This bird is a fast mover on the ground when scavenging for food, and sails, soars, and tumbles easily on updrafts.

This captive bred bird of prey is seen at the Hawk Conservancy Trust.

Close-up of a Striated Caracara which is fairly common locally on the Falkland Islands, where it is known as the Johnny Rook. This bird is a fast mover on the ground when scavenging for food, and sails, soars, and tumbles easily on updrafts.

This captive bred bird of prey is seen at the Hawk Conservancy Trust.

The Striated Caracara is fairly common locally on the Falkland Islands, where it is known as the Johnny Rook, and on remote and largely inaccessible islands south and west of Tierra del Fuego. This bird is a fast mover on the ground when scavenging for food, and sails, soars, and tumbles easily on updrafts.

This captive bred bird of prey is seen at the Hawk Conservancy Trust.

• Chimango caraca / Chimango

Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family:Falconidae
Genus:Milvago
Species:M. chimango

Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

• Chimango caraca / Chimango

Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family:Falconidae
Genus:Milvago
Species:M. chimango

Boca del Cufré, San José, Uruguay