Kingdom Animalia Order Falconiformes Genus Milvago Higher classification Milvago | Phylum Chordata Family Falconidae Scientific name Milvago chimango Rank Species | |
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Similar Milvago, Bird, Southern crested caracara, Southern lapwing, Yellow‑headed caracara | ||
The chimango caracara (Milvago chimango) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and south of Brazil. The chimango is found as far south as Tierra del Fuego and is a vagrant to the Falkland Islands.
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Habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, high-altitude shrubland, temperate grassland, Patagonian steppe, and heavily degraded former forest. This bird is typically found at edges of water and near towns and fields, the latter especially if they are newly ploughed. It is the most common raptor in the Argentinean Patagonia.
Species description
Length: 37 to 40 cm. A typical chimango has a mantle and back edged with cinnamon brown feathers and white. Neck, chest, abdomen and belly light brown. Head dark brown. It is the smallest variety of caracara. Wings have a dark brown stripe with white in the basal half of the primaries. The tail is light brown with a dark brown terminal band. Eyes are brown. Legs are light gray in the male and yellowish in the female.
Behaviour
The chimango is an intelligent bird and has high problem solving abilities compared to other birds. It eats insects, small vertebrates and carrion. The chimango is also known to catch living fish from the surface of the water.
