Specie's Page                                               South America - Striated Caracara

Striated Caracara:

UK Status: Non resident, but can be seen in some zoo's and wildlife parks.

Habitat: This bird is found mainly on off shore islands from the Falklands Isles to as far south as Argentina and Chile. It likes rocky coasts, and unimproved grassy areas with tussocks of grass. It range also extends inland on the mainland to the lower mountain slopes, up to an altitude of sixteen hundred feet.

Breeding: Takes place between October and January. Nests are built with sticks, and are placed on the ground between grass tussocks, or on cliff ledges. They nest in loose colonies, sometimes though nests can be as little as twenty feet apart. There are usually two large whitish eggs in a clutch, but there can be as many as four. There is also some evidence of communal breeding.

Comment: Striated Caracara is mainly a scavenger that feeds on carrion such as dead sheep, birds and other dead animals, rarely do they ever take live prey