Chimango caracara

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Chimango caracara
Milvago chimango -Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil-8.jpg
Nominate in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Milvago
Species:
M. chimango
Binomial name
Milvago chimango
(Vieillot, 1816)
Phalcoboenus chimango map.svg
Synonyms
  • Phalcoboenus chimango [2]
  • Daptrius chimango [3]
  • Polyborus chimangoVieillot, 1816

The chimango caracara also known as chimango or tiuque (Milvago chimango) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. [4] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as a vagrant on the Falkland Islands and has been introduced on Rapa Nui. [5]

Taxonomy and systematics

The taxonomy of the caracaras has not been settled. The American Ornithological Society and the International Ornithological Committee place the chimango and yellow-headed caracaras in genus Milvago. [6] [4] BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World places the chimango caracara and four others in genus Phalcoboenus and the yellow-headed caracara alone in Milvago. [2] The Clements taxonomy places the chimango, yellow-headed, and four other caracaras in genus Daptrius. [7] [3] The other systems place only the black caracara in Daptrius. [6] [4] [2]

The worldwide systems agree that the chimango caracara has two subspecies, the nominate M. c. chimango (Vieillot, 1816) and M. c. temucoensis (Sclater, 1918). [4] [2] [3] The population in Tierra del Fuego has sometimes been proposed as a third subspecies, M. c. fuegiensis. [8]

Description

The chimango caracara is 32 to 43 cm (13 to 17 in) long and weighs 170 to 260 g (6.0 to 9.2 oz). Its wingspan is 80 to 99 cm (31 to 39 in). The sexes' plumages are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies are mostly brownish throughout. They have dark streaks on the side of the head and on their hindneck. Their undersides are mottled or barred with rufous-brown. Their uppertail coverts are white and their tail is mottled grayish and white with a wide black band near the end. Also, their iris is brown. Males have bare yellow skin around the eye and yellow legs and feet. Females have reddish-pink skin around the eye and bluish-gray legs and feet. Juvenile birds have a strong rufous tinge overall and bare parts colored like the adult females. Subspecies M. c. temucoensis is a darker smoky brown than the nominate, and their underparts are more heavily marked. [9] [8]

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies of the chimango caracara is found in northern and central Chile and from central Argentina east through Paraguay, southern Brazil, and Uruguay to the Atlantic Ocean. It is also a non-breeding visitor north into Bolivia. Subspecies M. c. temucoensis is found from southern Chile at about Concepción Province and southern Argentina at about the Chubut River south through Tierra del Fuego to Cape Horn. Individuals have roamed to the Falkland Islands. In addition, the species was introduced to Easter Island in the early 20th century. [8] [5] [10]

The chimango caracara inhabits a wide variety of open landscapes including grassy Andean foothills, heathland, shrub–steppe, and marshes. It also occurs in open woods, plantations, villages, suburban and urban areas, and coastal flats. In Argentina it is often found along roads and areas with a mix of pristine and disturbed plots. [8] One author says it is most common in the ranching and wheat belt of the Argentinian Pampas, around Chilean fishing villages, around extensive marshlands, and at "rubbish dumps anywhere". [9] It is the most common raptor in Argentinean Patagonia. [11] In elevation it is most common below 2,000 m (6,600 ft) but is regularly found up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and occasionally as high as 4,000 m (13,000 ft). [9]

Behavior

Movement

The chimango caracara is a year-round resident in most of its range. Populations in the far south are partially migratory, with individuals moving north mostly in the austral winter. Members of the northern populations move into Bolivia in the non-breeding season and also in small numbers as far north in Brazil as Minas Gerais and Goiás. There are a few records from the Falkland Islands. [9] [8] [5]

Feeding

The chimango caracara is omnivorous, "a small-scale predator and general scavenger". [9] Its live prey include insects and other invertebrates, lizards, amphibians, the eggs and young of other birds, and rodents. It scavenges small roadkill and also the carcasses of larger animals after other predators have left. It eats smaller amounts of vegetable matter like rotten apples, fungi, and what it can glean from horse and cattle dung. Furthermore, it typically forages on the wing, flying somewhat randomly up to 10 m (30 ft) above the ground and dropping onto prey or other food sources. It often follows farmers as they plow (assemblies of more than 100 birds have been observed), congregates at grass fires, and frequents fishing villages and shellfish processing plants for their waste. It pirates food from other raptors and large waterbirds. [9] [8] Individuals have been observed catching live fish from the surface of water. [12]

Breeding

The chimango caracara's breeding season spans September to January, with eggs laid from mid-October to mid-November in much of its range. It usually nests in trees, building a stick platform up to about 30 m (100 ft) above the ground, but much lower in Patagonia and oriented to avoid prevailing winds. In areas with few trees, it will nest on the ground or tussocks in a marsh. Tree nests of adjoining pairs are usually fairly far apart. Ground nesting can be colonial, for example, an observation of more than 70 nests in a 1.5 ha (3.7 acres) site. The clutch size is usually two or three eggs but up to five is not uncommon. The incubation period is 26 to 32 days and fledging occurs 32 to 41 days after hatch. Both sexes build the nest, incubate the clutch, and provision the young. [9] [8]

Cognitive behavior

The chimango caracara is an intelligent bird and has high problem-solving abilities compared to other birds. "The explorative tendency, low neophobia, and ability to innovate showed by M. chimango may be advantageous for this generalist and opportunistic raptor and might be some of the factors underlying its ecological success." [13]

Vocalization

The chimango caracara is usually most vocal during the breeding season "particularly if human or other intruders [are] near nest", but also calls during disputes over food. Its most common call is a "loud petulant squealing keeeeee-eh" that is usually made singly and often in flight. It also makes a "more chattering...keag-keah-keah..." or "ke-ew, ke-ew, ke-ew" and a "variety of squeals, growls, and hissing whistles." [9]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the chimango caracara as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range, and though its population size is not known it is believed to be increasing. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] "Currently thriving, perhaps benefitting in part from deforestation, and is the commonest raptor through much of Chile and Argentina." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falconidae</span> Family of birds

The falcons and caracaras are around 65 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae. The family likely originated in South America during the Paleocene and is divided into three subfamilies: Herpetotherinae, which includes the laughing falcon and forest falcons; Polyborinae, which includes the spot-winged falconet and the caracaras; and Falconinae, the falcons and kestrels (Falco) and falconets (Microhierax).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caracara (subfamily)</span> Subfamily of birds

Caracaras are birds of prey in the family Falconidae. They are traditionally placed in subfamily Polyborinae with the forest falcons, but are sometimes considered to constitute their own subfamily, Caracarinae, or classified as members of the true falcon subfamily, Falconinae. Caracaras are principally birds of South and Central America, just reaching the southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy-headed goose</span> Species of bird

The ashy-headed goose is a species of waterfowl in tribe Tadornini of subfamily Anserinae. It is found in Argentina and Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated hawk</span> Species of bird

The white-throated hawk is a bird of prey in subfamily Buteoninae, the "soaring" hawks, of family Accipitridae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelp goose</span> Species of bird

The kelp goose is a species of waterfowl in tribe Tadornini of subfamily Anserinae. It is found in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-headed caracara</span> Species of bird

The yellow-headed caracara is new-world bird of prey in the family Falconidae, of the Falconiformes order. It is found as far north as Nicaragua, south to Costa Rica andPanamá, every mainland South American country, and on the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striated caracara</span> Species of bird

The striated caracara or Forster's caracara is a Near Threatened bird of prey of the family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. In the Falklands it is known as the Johnny rook, probably named after the Johnny penguin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crested caracara</span> Species of bird

The crested caracara, also known as the Mexican eagle, is a bird of prey in the falcon family, Falconidae. It is found from the southern and southeastern United States through Mexico and Central and South America, as well as some Caribbean islands. Documented rare sightings have occurred as far north as northern Minnesota and as far south as Tierra del Fuego.

<i>Phalcoboenus</i> Genus of birds

Phalcoboenus is a small genus of caracara in the family Falconidae. They are found in barren, open habitats in the Andes, Patagonia and the Falkland Islands. The four species are almost entirely allopatric. The adults are distinctive, with bare yellow, orange or red facial skin and cere, and a black plumage with variable amounts of white. Juveniles are overall brown with pale pinkish-grey facial skin and cere. They are highly opportunistic and typically seen walking on the ground, where they will feed on carrion and virtually any small animal they can catch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tawny-throated dotterel</span> Species of bird

The tawny-throated dotterel is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae, the plovers and their relatives. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated caracara</span> Species of bird

The white-throated caracara or Darwin's caracara is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Argentina and Chile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carunculated caracara</span> Species of bird

The carunculated caracara is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain caracara</span> Species of bird

The mountain caracara, is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found in puna and páramo in the Andes, ranging from northern Ecuador, through Peru and Bolivia, to northern Argentina and Chile. It is generally uncommon to fairly common. It resembles the closely related Carunculated Caracara and White-throated Caracara, but unlike those species, its chest is uniform black. Juveniles are far less distinctive than the red-faced pied adults, being overall brown with dull pinkish-grey facial skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spot-winged falconet</span> Species of bird

The spot-winged falconet is a species of bird of prey in subfamily Falconinae of family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and possibly Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-winged coot</span> Species of bird

The white-winged coot is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-breasted seedsnipe</span> Species of bird

The grey-breasted seedsnipe is a species of bird in the family Thinocoridae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean hawk</span> Species of bird

The Chilean hawk is a bird of prey species belonging to the typical hawks. It breeds in Andes forests from central Chile and western Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, from sea level to 2,700 m altitude. Some winter apparently in the lowlands of NW Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patagonian grasslands</span> Ecoregion in the south of Argentina

The Patagonian grasslands (NT0804) is an ecoregion in the south of Argentina and Chile. The grasslands are home to diverse fauna, including several rare or endemic species of birds. There are few protected areas. The grasslands are threatened by overgrazing by sheep, which supply high-quality merino wool. Efforts are being made to develop sustainable grazing practices to avoid desertification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magellanic snipe</span> Species of bird

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References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Chimango Caracara Phalcoboenus chimango". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22696264A132066597. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696264A132066597.en . Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 HBW and BirdLife International (2022) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip retrieved December 13, 2022
  3. 1 2 3 Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved November 10, 2022
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2023). "Seriemas, falcons". IOC World Bird List. v 13.1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
  6. 1 2 Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
  7. ↑ Fuchs, Jérôme; Johnson, Jeff A.; Mindell, David P. (2012-03-05). "Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data". Ibis. 154 (3). Wiley: 520–532. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.2012.01222.x. ISSN   0019-1019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bierregaard, R. O., G. M. Kirwan, and P. F. D. Boesman (2022). Chimango Caracara (Daptrius chimango), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (N. D. Sly, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.chicar1.01.1 retrieved February 14, 2023
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ferguson-Lees, James; Christie, David A. (2001). Raptors of the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 808–810. ISBN   0-618-12762-3.
  10. ↑ Marín, M.; Cáceres, P. (2010). "Sobre las aves de Isla de Pascua". Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Chile). 59: 75–95.
  11. ↑ Donázar, José A; Ceballos, Olga; Travaini, Alejandro; Hiraldo, Fernando (1993). "Roadside raptor surveys in the Argentinean Patagonia". Journal of Raptor Research. 27 (2): 106–110.
  12. ↑ Sazima, Ivan; Olmos, Fabio (September 2009). "The Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), an additional fisher among Caracarini falcons". Biota Neotropica. 9 (3): 403–405. doi: 10.1590/S1676-06032009000300036 .
  13. ↑ Biondi, Laura Marina; Bó, María Susana; Vassallo, Aldo Iván (1 September 2010). "Inter-individual and age differences in exploration, neophobia and problem-solving ability in a Neotropical raptor (Milvago chimango)". Animal Cognition. 13 (5): 701–710. doi:10.1007/s10071-010-0319-8. PMID   20300791. S2CID   23755597.

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