Striated Caracaras

Striated caracaras are remarkable birds of prey by any measure—perhaps the most unusual birds we work with at Hawk Mountain. They live and breed only on remote, exposed islands at the southern tip of South America, including Cape Horn itself, where colonial seabirds including albatrosses, penguins and burrowing petrels form the major share of their diet; and though they’re part of the falcon family, they’re curious, scavenging generalists that often act more like supercharged ravens than solitary hunters like peregrines or kestrels.  In captivity, striated caracaras are known for their fondness for social interaction and play, as well as their ability to solve complex puzzles; and their marked interest in novel objects even caught the eye of Charles Darwin, who called them “mischievous and inquisitive” and “tame and fearless.” Darwin noted that they were “exceedingly common” in the Falkland Islands during his visits aboard the Beagle in 1833-34, but absent on the South American mainland; and he wondered why “this bird, doubtless for some good reason, has chosen these islands for its metropolis.” 

Today, however, striated caracaras’ situation in the Falklands metropolis is uncertain, and likely precarious. Sheep farming became the focus of the islands’ economy in the late 19th century, and a century of persecution by landowners who saw the birds as a threat to their livestock, combined with the introduction of invasive predators like cats and rats, appears to have reduced their range to a small fraction of its former size. The IUCN Red List estimates the world population of striated caracaras at 1,500 to 2,000 individuals—only twice the estimated population of giant pandas—and notes the urgent need for more research to understand and protect these unique birds of prey, the southernmost raptors in the world.  

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The Future

The next steps in this important work are to:

• Analyze population genetics of caracaras within and beyond the Falklands
• Assess feeding ecology during austral winter when food resources are limited
• Assess juvenile dispersal and measure annual survival rates
• Monitor the effects of rat eradication programs on striated caracara populations
• Continue to track seasonal movements to determine high priority islands for further conservation efforts
• Continue outreach to farmers, sharing knowledge and encouraging a positive image of caracaras as unique and special raptors
• Continue involving Falkland Islanders in research and monitoring

Support

We are thankful for the logistical and financial support we have received for this research from the following generous organizations and individuals:

• David and Suzan Pole-Evans
• The Darwin Initiative
• Falklands Conservation
• Falkland Islands Government
• The Hawk Conservancy Trust
• The John Cheek Trust
• Wildlife Conservation Society
• And many generous private donors