RAPTORS of South America
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. The catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward.
The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, buzzards, harriers, kites, vultures, falcons, caracaras. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Falcons and Allies
Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae
The order Falconiformes once was considered to contain the hawk, eagles, vultures,and their allies. DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate. Falconiformes now contains just one family, Falconidae.
The Falconidae family contains the falcons, kestrels, caracaras. These are small to medium sized diurnal raptors. They differ from the hawks and their allies by the way they kill their prey. They use their beaks instead of their feet.
Genus Caracara
Caracara, Crested also Northern Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches 3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida
4) Alan D. Wilson - Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Caracara, Southern Caracara plancus Found: central and southern South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Claudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
4) Doug Janson 5) Dario Sanches - Fazenda Campo de Ouro,
3) Juvenile
Genus Milvago
Caracara, Chimango Milvago chimango Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Claudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 6) Charlie Westerinen - the Ushuaia, Argentina land fill
Caracara, Yellow-headed Milvago chimachima Found: tropical and subtropical South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches 3, 4, 6) Claudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil
5) Edward Weston - Esparza, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Genus Phalcoboenus
Caracara, Carunculated Phalcoboenus carunculatus Found: South America
Photographed by: Tad Boniecki - Cotopaxi National Park (Ecuador)
Caracara, Mountain Phalcoboenus megalopterus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Elmarto 2) Julia Manzerova near Machu Picchu, Peru 3) Dick Daniels - World of Birds, South Africa
4) Dick - World of Birds
Genus Falco
Falcon, Aplomado Falco femoralis Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - Boise Raptor Center
2, 3) Elaine R Wilson - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron County, Texas
Falcon, Peregrine Falco peregrinus Found: Almost everywhere
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encoumters, South Africa 2) Dick - Eagle Encoumters
3) Dick - Sunset Beach, North Carolina 4, 5, 6) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center 7) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center
Kestrel, American Falco sparverius Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 2) Dick - Puerto Rico 3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida
4) Dick - Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina 5, 6) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center 7) Dick - Jamaica
Genus Herpetotheres - 1 species
Falcon, Laughing Herpetotheres cachinnans Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Ni to il 2) Ken Erickson - Liberia, Costa Rica
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.