Firs quantitative data on the diet of the Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus)

DONADIO E.; BOLGERI M.J. ; WURSTTEN A.

Journal of Raptors Research

The Raptor Research Foundation

Año: 2007 vol. 41 p. 328 - 330

0892-1016

An endemic South American raptor, the Mountain Caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) inhabits the Andes of Bolivia, Chile, northern Peru, and northwestern Argentina. The biology of this species is poorly understood, with only a few qualitative observations describing nest structure and feeding habits. Between June and August 2004, we collected Mountain Caracaras? pellets in three contiguous reserves located in the Andes range of northwestern Argentina: San Guillermo National Park, San Guillermo Provincial Reserve, both in San Juan province and Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve, in La Rioja province. In contrast to the findings of Figueroa et al. (2004) for Mountain Caracaras in Chile, we found that Mountain Caracaras in the high plains of northwestern Argentina relied on carrion as their primary source of food. Invertebrates, mainly beetles, represented only a small portion of the diet; whether Mountain Caracaras actively preyed upon invertebrates or consumed them accidentally when feeding on carcasses remains unknown.