Head to head
Aplomado Falcon vs Chimango Caracara
Aplomado Falcon
VS Chimango Caracara
Both birds belong to the falcon family, but they hunt in almost opposite ways.
| Aplomado Falcon | Chimango Caracara | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Falco femoralis | Milvago chimango |
| Classification | A true falcon | A caracara |
| Hunting style | Fast aerial pursuit, sometimes cooperative | Ground-walking, opportunistic scavenging |
| Range | Southern United States to Patagonia | Southern South America |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Increasing |
| Diet | Small birds, insects, reptiles | Carrion, small animals, scraps |
| Habitat | Grassland, savanna | Grassland, coastal |
Aplomado Falcon vs Chimango Caracara: common questions
Which one hunts through fast aerial pursuit?
The aplomado falcon hunts this way, chasing prey at speed and sometimes working cooperatively in pairs, unlike the chimango caracara, which forages mainly on the ground.
Which one forages mainly by walking on the ground?
The chimango caracara does this, frequently seen walking in search of scraps and carrion, a behaviour not typical of the fast-flying aplomado falcon.
Which one has the wider overall range?
The aplomado falcon has the wider range, breeding from the southern United States all the way to Patagonia, compared with the chimango caracara's more limited southern South American range.