Mountain Caracara - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by StanleyJones
Lago Huaypo, Cusco Department, Peru, September 2018

Phalcoboenus megalopterus

Identification

48–55 cm (19-21¾ in)

• Glossy black upperparts and chest
• White belly

Distribution

Juvenile
Photo © by jmorlan
Valle del Yeso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile, February 2018

South America: found in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and Argentina.

Taxonomy

Both this species and Carunculated Caracara have previously been considered subspecies of White-throated Caracara

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Open, mountain grasslands. Generally observed at heights around 2000–5000 m.

Behaviour

Breeding

They nest on cliffs.

Diet

Photo © by Stanley Jones
Reserva Nacional Junín, Ondores, Junín, Peru, August 2017

Their main diet consists of small rodents, birds, large arthropods, carrion and rubbish.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2016)

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Mountain Caracara. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mountain_Caracara

External Links

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