Bird of the Week – Striated Caracara
The Striated Caracara is found in the Falkland Islands, in the far South Atlantic, east of the South America. It’s a member of the falcon family, but as often happens when a species reaches remote islands, it has expanded its ecological niche and acts more like a Common Raven. The locals call it “Johnny Rook.”
Striated Caracara, Falkland Islands
Handsome, fearless and formerly common, it’s regarded as a threat to young and sick sheep by Falklanders. As a result, it’s badly persecuted, and the Falklands population is down to about 500 breeding pairs. The species is classified as “near-threatened.”
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Hmmm. I could swear I’ve seen that bird in downtown Anchorage hanging around State and Muni office buildings, flew up from Juneau I believe. Looking to find those much needed tennis courts or something.