Striated Caracara 

Phalcoboenus Austalis

Distribution: Endemic to the Falklands and islands off both the Chilean and Argentine coasts of Tierra del Fuego, including Isla de los Estado, south of Beagle channel and the Peninsula Mitre at Southeast corner of Isla Grande itself. 

Habitat: Rocky coasts adjacent to Tussock-grass lowlands, coastal mountain slopes and extending locally into forested areas. 

Food: Strong association with seabird colonies, particularly Rock-hopper penguins, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Kelp and upland Geese and Crested Ducks. At night will hunt and catch Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Diving-petrels and Prions. During the harsh winter months, will scratch and dig for both terrestrial and marine invertebrates and larvae among the Tussock grasses and along rocky shorelines and intertidal zones and will often pirate/steal food from various gull species.

Facts:  

• Often solitary or in pairs, somewhat colonial with 25-30 birds at abundant food sources.
• Highly intelligent hunter-scavenger, will use strong feet to turn over drift-wood, stones to search for food, will often go underground to raid the nests of tunnel dwelling birds.
• Unlike many diurnal raptor species, the Striated Caracara will often hunt at throughout the night-time hours to find food. Prey can be taken both on the ground and in flight.
• No aerial courtship displays apart from soaring flight but will throw head back in advertisement call.
• Has a marked tendency to pick up and carry off brightly coloured objects, especially red ones.
• Juvenile birds tend to form up into gangs (which can consist of up to 30 individuals) when the parent bird evicts the youngsters from their territory. These gangs tend to run into trouble with the local human inhabitants as the young birds will often raid dustbins, rubbish dumps and sheep-farms in search of food
• The Falkland Island Caracara is primarily a scavenger, although it will attack weak or disabled creatures, even ones as large as sheep.  It takes land and marine invertebrates, sometimes using its strong legs and blunt, strong claws to dig for them.

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