Red-throated caracara

Red-throated caracara
In Ecuador
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Subfamily: Polyborinae
Genus: Ibycter
Vieillot, 1816
Species:
I. americanus
Binomial name
Ibycter americanus
(Boddaert, 1783)
Synonyms
  • Falco americanus
    Boddaert, 1783
  • Daptrius americanus
    (Boddaert, 1783)

The red-throated caracara (Ibycter americanus) is a social species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is placed in the monotypic genus Ibycter, or sometimes united in Daptrius with the black caracara. Unique among caracaras, it mainly feeds on the larvae of bees and wasps, but also takes the adult insects and fruits and berries.

It is found from far southern Mexico through parts of Central and South America south to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.