Photo: McCann S, Moeri O, Jones T, Scott C, Khaskin G, et al. / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-throated Caracara
Ibycter americanus
Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
See what's near you right nowThe Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 624 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Ibycter
- Species americanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 624 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-throated Caracara is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-throated Caracara is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) belongs to the Falconidae family of the order Falconiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA s Mexico to s Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 624 g, with a wing length of about 36 cm and a tail of around 25.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-throated Caracara?
The Red-throated Caracara is a large bird that weighs around 624 g.
Where does the Red-throated Caracara live?
The Red-throated Caracara is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA s Mexico to s Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-throated Caracara belong to?
The Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Red-throated Caracara eat?
The Red-throated Caracara is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Red-throated Caracara migrate?
The Red-throated Caracara is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-throated Caracara endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Red-throated Caracara make?
1 real field recording of the Red-throated Caracara — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Red-throated Caracara's range?
The Red-throated Caracara has a mapped global range of about 8.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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