Chimango Caracara

The Chimango Caracara is one of the most familiar and abundant raptors of southern South America, found throughout Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay in open grassland, farmland, and even city parks and garbage dumps.

Its feathers are a fairly uniform brown with a pale buffy wash, lacking the striking pale head of its close relative the Yellow-headed Caracara, making overall uniform coloration the best clue to its identity.

Because it thrives in human-modified and urban landscapes as a generalist scavenger, feathers are commonly found in city parks, farmland, and coastal areas across its southern South American range.

Shape and size

• Flight feathers are broad and rounded, moderate in size, primaries around 22-26 cm.
• Tail feathers are brown with fine, faint barring.

Color and pattern

• Body and wing feathers are a fairly uniform brown, with a paler buffy wash on the head and underparts.
• Shafts are pale to light brown throughout, without strong contrast.

Similar species

• Distinguished from the Yellow-headed Caracara by its more uniform brown tone overall, lacking the strongly pale creamy-yellow head of that species; ranges overlap only marginally, with this species centered further south.

Adults show a fairly uniform brown plumage with a paler buffy wash on the head and underparts, sexes similar. Juveniles are similar in tone, sometimes slightly more streaked, converging with adult appearance without a dramatic change.

Found in open grassland, farmland, coastal areas, and urban parks throughout Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It is largely resident and one of the most common raptors in its range.

A highly opportunistic scavenger and generalist feeder, taking carrion, insects, small vertebrates, and refuse, often in and around cities and towns. Nests in trees or on structures. Calls are harsh, repeated notes, frequently heard in open country and urban parks alike.

Field note: a uniformly brown feather with only a pale buffy wash, found in open farmland or even city parks in southern South America, is a good match for this abundant species.