Birds
Striated Caracara
Phalcoboenus australis · also called Johnny rook
Investigating an unattended backpack with the same curiosity it shows toward a dead seal, a striated caracara has earned Falkland Islanders’ nickname Johnny rook for a boldness rarely seen in any bird of prey.
Overview
The striated caracara, Phalcoboenus australis, is a Near Threatened bird of prey confined almost entirely to the Falkland Islands, with a small additional population on islands off Tierra del Fuego. Famous for its extraordinary curiosity and problem-solving ability, it is considered one of the most intelligent birds of prey ever studied.
A raptor with a reputation
Research into its cognitive abilities has placed the striated caracara among birds capable of tasks more typically associated with parrots or crows, a reputation matched by its real-world habit of investigating and carrying off unattended items from camps and settlements.
Status
Near Threatened, with a small global population slowly recovering after historic persecution by farmers who viewed the species as a threat to livestock.
Striated Caracara: common questions
Why is the striated caracara called Johnny rook?
Falkland Islanders gave it this nickname, reflecting its bold, inquisitive reputation and its habit of investigating almost anything unfamiliar that appears in its territory.
Why is the striated caracara considered unusually intelligent?
Researchers studying problem-solving in birds of prey have found this species capable of tasks more typically associated with parrots or crows, consistent with its famously bold and exploratory behaviour in the wild.
Why did the striated caracara become threatened?
Farmers on the Falkland Islands historically persecuted the species, believing it threatened livestock, which sharply reduced its population before protections were introduced.
Where does the striated caracara live?
It is confined almost entirely to the Falkland Islands, with a small additional population on a few islands off Tierra del Fuego, making it one of the most range-restricted raptors in the world.