Birds
White-throated Caracara
Phalcoboenus albogularis · also called white-throated caracaras
Walking boldly into farms and camps in search of scraps, a white-throated caracara shows little fear of people, its striking black-and-white plumage a familiar sight across the harsh terrain of the southern Andes and Patagonia it calls home.
Overview
The white-throated caracara, Phalcoboenus albogularis, is a Least Concern bird of prey native to mountain and grassland habitat across the southern Andes and Patagonia. Its restricted southern range, bold confidence around human settlements, and ground-based scavenging lifestyle make it one of the more geographically confined yet behaviourally distinctive caracaras found anywhere in South America.
A scavenger unafraid of people
While many wild birds keep a cautious distance from human activity, the white-throated caracara has instead learned to approach farms and camps directly, a boldness that reflects its opportunistic, ground-based scavenging lifestyle across some of the harshest terrain in southern South America.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable habitat throughout the southern Andes and Patagonia.
White-throated Caracara: common questions
How can you identify a white-throated caracara?
This species has a striking black-and-white plumage pattern, with a distinctive white throat and chest contrasting sharply against dark wings and back.
How does the white-throated caracara's range compare with other caracaras?
This species is restricted to the southern Andes and Patagonia, a considerably more limited range than several of its wider-ranging caracara relatives found further north.
Is the white-throated caracara afraid of humans?
No, this species is notably bold and confident around human settlements, readily approaching farms and camps in search of food scraps.
Does the white-throated caracara hunt like a typical falcon?
Not exactly, this species forages mainly by walking across open ground, an approach shared with other caracara species rather than the aerial hunting typical of true falcons.