Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis)

Striated Caracara
Phalcoboenus australis

The Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) occurs rarely in the Tierra del Fuego area of extreme southern South America, but the main range of the species is the Falkland Islands. The species is also called Forster's Caracara by some authors and on the Falklands it is simply referred to as "Johnny Rook". The photos here were shot on Sea Lion Island in the Falklands in January 1999 with a Canon EOS 1N & EF 70-200 F2.8L lens with fill flash. The film was Fuji Sensia 100. The bird(s) pictured here were on the edge of a cliff on the north side of the island. The pair of birds had a nest about 10 feet below this spot.