Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Red-throated Caracara

Ibycter americanus

The Red-throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) is a striking bird of prey, a member of the Falconidae family. It is the sole representative of the genus Ibycter, a monotypic genus that was once grouped with the Black Caracara in Daptrius. This species is notable for its predominantly black plumage, contrasted by white on the belly, tail feathers, and undertail coverts. The skin on the face and throat is bare, revealing a vivid red coloration, with sparse black feathers dotting the throat area. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with males averaging 51 cm in length and females slightly larger at 56 cm.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Red-throated Caracara, look for its larger size compared to the Black Caracara and its distinctive coloration. The bare red skin on the face and throat is a key characteristic, along with the white underparts. The wingspan of males is about 35.55 cm, with a tail length of 24.96 cm, while females have a wingspan of 35.93 cm and a tail length of 25.31 cm.

Habitat

This species thrives in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is well-adapted to flying in the understory where vegetation is less dense, allowing for better visibility to spot food and potential threats.

Distribution

The Red-throated Caracara is found from Mexico south to Venezuela, encompassing a wide range of Central and South American countries. Its presence has been recorded in nations such as Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Behaviour

This caracara is a social bird, often found in groups of four to eight individuals. It is highly territorial and employs a cooperative hunting strategy, with some members scouting for predators while others forage. Its flight is relatively slow, which is well-suited for maneuvering through the forest understory.

Song & Calls

While hunting, the Red-throated Caracara is mostly silent but may emit soft caws. The intricacies of its vocalizations during other behaviors remain less documented.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Red-throated Caracara is specialized, focusing on the larvae of bees and wasps, though it will also consume adult insects, fruits, and berries. It employs a unique "fly-by" attack strategy to dislodge insect nests, demonstrating remarkable agility and coordination.

Conservation status

The Red-throated Caracara is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its populations have experienced declines in certain areas due to habitat loss and changes in forest ecosystems, which are crucial for its specialized diet. Conservation efforts are important to maintain the biodiversity that supports this species' unique feeding habits.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Red-throated Caracaras on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Caracaras, Falcons

A photo of a Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Jake W
Great app
I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.