Chimango Caracara Daptrius chimango Scientific name definitions

The Chimango Caracara is one of the most common open country birds in southern South America. It inhabits a wide variety of open habitats, such as grassy Andean foothills, heathland, shrub-steppe, marshes, agricultural lands, and along coasts, from southern Bolivia to Tierra del Fuego. The Chimango Caracara is the least patterned of the caracaras; its plumage is mostly brownish with variable dark streaking. It is polytypic with the southern subspecies being darker than the northern. These caracaras feed in small to medium sized groups that roam the countryside looking for just about anything that could be deemed edible and are consummate opportunists; they are an important predator of nestlings, will gather at large insects swarms, and even flock with Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) at shellfish processing plants to feed on discarded scraps.

32–43 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 2 Aráoz, R., D. Ortiz, and P. Capllonch (2016). Biometrics and body masses of some birds of prey of Argentina. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 24(4):344–348. Close ); male 289 g, female 300 g, unsexed 170–260 g (2 Aráoz, R., D. Ortiz, and P. Capllonch (2016). Biometrics and body masses of some birds of prey of Argentina. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 24(4):344–348. Close ); wingspan 80–99 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). All-brownish small caracara, with dark streaks on sides of head and hindneck; below mottled or barred rufous-brown, underwing-coverts cinnamon barred fuscous-brown; rather long tail mottled grayish and white, with broad black subterminal band; in flight, conspicuous white uppertail coverts and pale buff window, formed by pale gray primaries with black tips; face more extensively feathered than in the Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima). Iris brown, bare facial skin either reddish pink in female or yellow in male, and legs and feet yellow in male and bluish gray in female (3 Sarasola, J. H., J. J. Negro, M. J. Bechard, and A. Lanusse (2011). Not as similar as thought: sexual dichromatism in Chimango Caracaras is expressed in the exposed skin but not in the plumage. Journal of Ornithology 152(2):473-479. Close ). Similar to immatures of other Daptrius, but considerably smaller. Juvenile strongly tinged rufous, often with white splotches, and has bare-parts coloration like adult female (3 Sarasola, J. H., J. J. Negro, M. J. Bechard, and A. Lanusse (2011). Not as similar as thought: sexual dichromatism in Chimango Caracaras is expressed in the exposed skin but not in the plumage. Journal of Ornithology 152(2):473-479. Close ). Subspecies<em>temucoensis</em> darker, smokier brown and more heavily marked.

Polyborus chimango Vieillot 1816, Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, appliquée aux arts, à l'agriculture, à l'économie rurale et domestique, à la médecine, etc. Nouvelle edition. 5 pg. 260.—Rare in Paraguay, common on the Rio de la Plata.

Originally described in Polyborus (now Caracara), this species was long placed in the genus Milvago with its presumed closest relative Yellow-headed Caracara (then Milvago chimachima, now Daptrius chimachima). Molecular phylogenetics indicate that two are not sister species, and the genus Milvago is not monophyletic (4 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2012). Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Ibis 154(3):520-532. Close , 5 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2015). Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the late Miocene. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 82:166–182. Close ). Chimango Caracara is most closely related to the four members of the former genus Phalcoboenus, and this group are together sister to a clade containing Yellow-headed Caracara and Black Caracara (Daptrius ater) (4 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2012). Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Ibis 154(3):520-532. Close , 5 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2015). Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the late Miocene. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 82:166–182. Close ). All seven species have subsequently been moved to the genus Daptrius, due to the relatively shallow genetic divergence, and the lack of available generic name for Chimango Caracara (4 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2012). Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Ibis 154(3):520-532. Close , 5 Fuchs, J., J. A. Johnson, and D. P. Mindell (2015). Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the late Miocene. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 82:166–182. Close ).

Birds of Tierra del Fuego sometimes awarded separate subspecies, fuegiensis; possible subspecies azarae (Paraguay) normally included within nominate.

Two subspecies recognized.

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SUBSPECIES

Daptrius chimango chimango Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Northern and central Chile and northern and central Argentina through Paraguay to Uruguay and adjacent Brazil (southeastern São Paulo).

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SUBSPECIES

Daptrius chimango temucoensis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Southern Chile (from near Concepción) and southern Argentina (from River Chubut) south to Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn; in winter to central Paraguay and adjacent Brazil.

Found across the Southern Cone of South America. West of the Andes: central and southern Chile. East of the Andes, Paraguay, Uruguay, adjacent Brazil, northern Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. In winter, further north in Paraguay and adjacent Brazil.

Introduced to Easter Island (south Pacific).

All kinds of open country ; found equally in grassy foothills of Andes, heathland, shrub steppe, marshes, fields, open woods and plantations (6 Souza Petersen, E., M. V. Petry, and L. Krüger-Garcia (2011). Utilização de diferentes hábitats por aves de rapina no sul do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 19(3):376-384. Close ), river valleys and villages, and even town and city parks (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); also along coast. In Argentina, positively associated with roads, sites with a complex matrix of disturbed and undisturbed plots, and high levels of forest cover (7 Pedrana, J., J. P. Isacch, and M. S. Bó (2008). Habitat relationships of diurnal raptors at local and landscape scales in southern temperate grasslands of Argentina. Emu 108(4):301-310. Close ). Straggles to temperate Andes in central Chile and adjacent Argentina; recorded up to 4,000 m, but only regularly to 3,000 m and most regularly below 2,000 m (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes forages over burnt land.

Southern populations appear at least partially migratory, moving north at least as far as Tucumán, in northwestern Argentina, during austral winter (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but transition to resident populations not known. At Punta Rasa, near Buenos Aires, counts of migrating raptors in austral spring revealed passage of 250 caracaras, of which 60% (149 individuals) were adults, 14% (36) immatures and 26% (65) were not aged; 93% (138) of adults passed in September–early October, and 100% of immatures in late November (8 Juhant, M. A. (2010). Austral spring migration counts of raptors in Punta Rasa, Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical 21(2):263–270. Close ). In Brazil, species occasionally appears beyond known range, in Paraná (e.g., July–August) (9 Vallejos, M. A. V., and L. R. Deconto (2009). Ocorrências extra-litorâneas de chimango Milvago chimango (Falconiformes: Falconidae) no Paraná. Atualidades Ornitológicas 152:39-40. Close ), São Paulo (mainly winter, e.g., June–July, but also November) (10 Willis, E. O., and Y. Oniki (1993). New and reconfirmed birds from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with notes on disappearing species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 113(1):23–34. Close ), Rio de Janeiro and, more exceptionally, Minas Gerais (February and June), Goiás (11 Sick, H. (1997). Ornitologia Brasileira. Editora Nova Fronteira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Close ) and Mato Grosso do Sul (September–October) (9 Vallejos, M. A. V., and L. R. Deconto (2009). Ocorrências extra-litorâneas de chimango Milvago chimango (Falconiformes: Falconidae) no Paraná. Atualidades Ornitológicas 152:39-40. Close ), but subspecies involved is apparently unknown. Record from eastern Bolivia not generally accepted (12 Remsen, J. V., and M. A. Traylor (1989). An Annotated List of the Birds of Bolivia. Buteo Books, Vermillion, SD, USA. Close ). Vagrant to Falkland Islands (3–4 records) (13 Gregory, P. (1994) Notes on new and scarce birds in the Falkland Islands 1988–1990. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 114: 12–20. Close ).

Feeds on carrion (dead fish, small-sized roadkills, dead lambs, but also larger carcasses after other predators have left) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and also live prey, including insects (including locusts, cicadas, beetles, maggots and other larvae) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), anurans, eggs and nestling passerines, small rodents and other mammals (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), lizards and worms; turtle eggs taken as they are being laid; even vegetable matter, including rotten apples, cereal seeds, fungi and recyclable material from animal dung (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Breeding season study of pellets in Argentina revealed that insects represented 96% of all prey items, whereas carrion (mainly fish, birds and mammals) comprised 1% numerically of prey but 48% of total biomass, with insects, amphibians, birds and mammals comprising 95% of estimated biomass; vertebrates dominated during the first part of the breeding season, with insects more abundant later, possibly reflecting either a decrease in vertebrate availability and/or changes in diet according to nutritional requirements of nestlings (14 Biondi, L. M., M. S. Bó, and M. Favero (2005). Dieta del Chimango (Milvago chimango) durante el periodo reproductivo en el sudeste de la provincia be Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 16(1):31-42. Close ). Elsewhere, in southern Chile, year-round study using pellets identified coleopterans (34%), vegetable fibers (29%) and grass seeds (12%) as the most important trophic categories, while at a seasonal level the insect Aulacopalpus viridis was recorded as the exclusive consumption during summer and the native rodents Abrothrix longipilis and Abrothris olivaceus were consumed in winter (15 Tobar, C., J. Rau, A. Santibáñez, A. Arriagada, S. Sade, R. Araneda, and F. Tello (2014). Dieta del Tiuque (Milvago chimango) en agroecosistemas de la ciudad de Osorno, sur de Chile [Diet of the Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango) in agroecosystems of Osorno city, southern Chile]. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 20(1–2) :13–16. Close ). Very versatile but nonetheless apparently ignores Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) corpses on beaches in Brazil, preferring dead fishes and moribund petrels and albatrosses (16 Vooren, C. M., and A. Chiaradia (1990). Seasonal abundance and behaviour of coastal birds on Cassino Beach, Brazil. Ornitologia Neotropical 1(1–2):9–24. Close ). Takes picks off cattle and horses, and also feeds at sores on same animals, but much less obligate in such behavior than the Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Hundreds of individuals follow farmers ploughing and will also congregate around grass fires and at rubbish tips (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Gathers at swarms of large insects, feeding copiously. Can be an important predator on nestlings of (colonial) waterbirds, e.g., Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis), Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), and chicks of seabirds on Easter Island, including Pterodroma petrels (17 Marín, M., and P. Cáceres (2010). Sobre las aves de Isla de Pascua. Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Chile) 59:75–95. Close ). In central Chile, items in diet: 87% insects, mostly Coleoptera and Orthoptera; 9% worms (Oligochaetes); and 4% rodents, unidentified birds and lizards. Jumps and runs after prey on ground , but forages largely on wing, sometimes even quartering like a harrier (Circus sp.), though more frequently in an apparently random manner, typically flying 3–10 m above ground (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Will attack other raptors and large waterbirds (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and also recorded pirating food (mainly clams and to much lesser extent crabs) from American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), with reasonable success (65% of attempts) (18 García, G. O., and L. M. Biondi (2011). Kleptoparasitism by the Caracara Chimago [sic] (Milvago chimango) on the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) at Mar Chiquita lagoon, Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 22(3):453–457. Close ). In northern Argentina, an apparently facilitative association has been noted between the Chimango Caracara and Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma), whereby the present species (despite kleptoparasitizing other birds in the same region) waits unaggressively for hawks to discard prey, e.g., the head and viscera of tuco-tucos (Ctenomys talarum), which the caracaras then feed on (19 Baladrón, A. V., L. M. Biondi, M. S. Bó, A. I. Malizia, and M. J. Bechard (2009). Red-backed Hawks supply food to scavenging Chimango Caracaras. Emu 109(3):260-264. Close ). In southern central Chile, large numbers congregate, along with Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), around shellfish processing factories, feeding on remains left attached to discarded shells; also seen taking live clam, and opening it to feed on flesh, breaking shell into pieces in process. In Patagonia, a bird recorded while feeding on mussels in the seashore.

Loud squealing keeeeee-eh usually uttered singly, but which may become even more drawn out, with a more chattering but also petulant-sounding keah-keah-keah... or more disyllabic ke-ew, ke-ew, ke-ew... (with head thrown back), as well as a variety of squeals, growls and hissing whistles; all of these vocalizations are mostly commonly given during the breeding season, especially near the nest and in response to intruders, including humans (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In Argentina, lays September–December (austral spring), with peak in October, and most clutches initiated in same month in southern Chile (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ); fledged young being fed by adults in January, in Tierra del Fuego. Nests solitarily (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) or colonially: 56 nests in 0.7 ha at one site in Argentina, where nests just 4–10 m apart, with 70+ pairs in ca. 1.5 ha at another (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); on Chiloe Island, southern Chile, no evidence of semi-colonial or colonial behavior (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ). Usually nests in trees, including exotic species (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ) and typically 3–28.9 m above ground (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ), but will nest on ground among rushes, tall grasses or thistles, or just above it, sometimes over water in dense tussock (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); tree-nest ca. 35–40 cm wide (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), built of sticks often with wool, feathers or plant lining (occasionally old rags) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); nests nearly always very well concealed (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ), although those sited on cliffs or poles are more exposed (21 Travaini, A., J. A. Donázar, O. Ceballos, M. Funes, A. Rodriguez, J. Bustamente, M. Delibes, and F. Hiraldo (1994). Nest-site characteristics of four raptor species in the Argentinian Patagonia. Wilson Bulletin 106(4):753–757. Close ). In Patagonia, where nests tend to be sited less than 2.5 m above ground, they are usually oriented to provide most protection against prevailing winds (21 Travaini, A., J. A. Donázar, O. Ceballos, M. Funes, A. Rodriguez, J. Bustamente, M. Delibes, and F. Hiraldo (1994). Nest-site characteristics of four raptor species in the Argentinian Patagonia. Wilson Bulletin 106(4):753–757. Close ). Colonies more commonly found in ground-nesting situations and perhaps ephemeral, for just single season, perhaps during periods of ideal foraging conditions (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Usually 2–3 eggs  (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ) (means 2.3–2.77) (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ), but up to five recorded (in Chilean study just 11% of nests contained single-egg clutches) (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ); incubation 26–32 days (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ), starting with first egg; chicks have yellowish down; fledge at 32–41 days (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ). Both sexes build nest, incubate eggs and feed young (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ). Will occasionally attempt to relay if first clutch lost early in season, but no reported instances of such replacements being successful (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ). Very few data on success: five nests in eastern Mendoza province, Argentina, were all successful (22 Mezquida, E. T., and L. Marone (2001) Factors affecting nesting success of a bird assembly in the central Monte Desert, Argentina. Journal of Avian Biology 32:287–296. Close ), whereas in Buenos Aires and Córdoba provinces just 30% were; on Chiloe Island, southern Chile, 72 nests monitored over two seasons had mean productivity of 1.22
± 0.11 fledglings per active nest (not difference between years), with 57% of nests successful and highest productivity (and highest nest densities) along beaches rather than at more inland sites; nests placed in exotic trees also tended to be more successful on average, perhaps because their dense foliage provides better protection against predators (20 Morrison, J. L., and L. M. Phillips (2000). Nesting habitat and success of the Chimango Caracara in southern Chile. Wilson Bulletin 112(2):225-232. Close ). Nests occasionally parasitized by the Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) (23 Dawson, R. D., and G. R. Bortolotti (1997). Misdirected incubation in American Kestrels: a case of competition for nest sites? Wilson Bulletin 109(4):732-734. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Currently thriving, perhaps benfitting in part from deforestation, and is commonest raptor through much of Chile and Argentina. In southern central Chile, fairly common to abundant around many towns, and especially fishing villages; common in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Apparently predated by Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) in Argentine Patagonia (24 Hiraldo, F., J. A. Donázar, O. Ceballos, A. Travaini, J. Bustamente, and M. Funes (1995). Breeding biology of a Grey Eagle-Buzzard population in Patagonia. Wilson Bulletin 107(4):675–685. Close ). Often closely associated with man, feeding on discarded rubbish. Introduced onto Easter Island, south Pacific, probably sometime between 1910 and 1920 (17 Marín, M., and P. Cáceres (2010). Sobre las aves de Isla de Pascua. Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Chile) 59:75–95. Close ).