Black Caracara

Adult black caracara are a glossy black except for the distinctive white band on the base of the tail, and yellow to orange-red feet and face. The adults appear similar to those of their closest relative, the red-throated caracara, however they have distinctly long and narrow wings and tail, as well as a black beak. Additionally, the red-throated caracara can be distinguished from the black caracara by their red throats. The average adult length is 41–47 cm (16–19 in)-. The females of this species average 350–440 g (12–16 oz) and are typically larger than the males that have an average weight of 330 g (12 oz). Juveniles can be identified by their dull black plumage, pale yellow face and the 3-4 black bars found on the rectrices. When observing flight from a distance, it is notable that Daptrius ater rarely soars, but instead can be seen continuously flapping.

It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest. Common habitats include gallery forest and wooded savanna that are situated between altitudes of 0 to 900 m (0 to 2,950 ft). Black caracara can also be found in mangroves and disturbed forested habitats along water.

The black caracara is most often seen in pairs or family groups, consisting of 3–5 birds, but may also be spotted alone. They have been observed flying in straight patterns with active wing-flapping, gliding, walking along rivers, and perching in tall trees. Other common sightings have famously associated them with tapir and capybara, as they have been observed cleaning ectoparasites and insects from the animals' fur. This interaction can be considered mutualistic, as tapirs will often solicit black caracaras, by emitting a call; the tapirs then lay still on the ground to attract the caracaras for insect and tick removal. Black caracara also scavenge around human settlements, consume carrion, and exhibit the ability to catch fish along rivers and in lakes.

Food and feeding. The black caracara is known to eat almost anything, from vegetation to carrion to live prey; therefore, they are best described as an opportunistic omnivorous predator. More specifically, their diet may consist of nestlings and fledglings of numerous other bird species, mature smaller birds (such as flycatchers, parrots, pigeons), small mammals, frogs, lizards, snakes, numerous invertebrates, small fish, palm nuts and numerous varieties of fruits. …