Carunculated caracara | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Falconiformes |
Family: | Falconidae |
Genus: | Phalcoboenus |
Species: | P. carunculatus |
Binomial name | |
Phalcoboenus carunculatus Des Murs, 1853 |
The carunculated caracara (Phalcoboenus carunculatus) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found in páramo in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia. It is generally uncommon to fairly common.
A highly opportunistic species often seen walking on the ground, it will feed on both carrion and virtually any small animal it can catch.
It resembles the closely related mountain caracara, but unlike that species its chest and upper belly is black with dense white streaks. Juveniles are far less distinctive than the orange-faced pied adults, being overall brown with dull pinkish-grey facial skin.