Striated Caracara in the Falklands
The striated caracara, (Phalcoboenus australis) is a bird of prey of the family Falconidae. In the Falkland Islands it is known as the Johnny rook. The adults' plumage is almost black in colour, while the legs and lores are orange and the neck is flecked with grey. The first year juveniles have an orange or light red down, which they lose after their first molt. Full adult plumage is acquired only in the fifth year. It breeds in several islands in Tierra del Fuego, but is more abundant in the Falklands. Though it was once considered common in the Falklands archipelago, it now only nests in the outlying islands where it breeds around penguin and albatross colonies. The striated caracara is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, mainly dead seabirds and dead sheep, offal and food scraps. It occasionally takes insects and earthworms that it digs up with its claws. However it will also prey on weak or injured creatures, such as young seabirds. Its habit of attacking newborn lambs and weakened sheep has led it to be ruthlessly persecuted by sheep farmers.
Size: 3191px × 4787px
Location: Saunders Island Falklands
Photo credit: © Philip Jones / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: _d, atlantic, australis, bird, birds, caracara, falkland, falklands, island, islands, johnny, malvinas, neck, phalcoboenus, prey, pt, rook, saunder, south, striated, vertical
