The Story
This juvenile Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) was at Reserva Natural La Palmita in Trinidad, Casanare, Colombia when I photographed it. The Yellow-headed Caracara is omnivorous and relies heavily on scavenging. Its diet includes carrion, insects, crabs, fish, reptiles, amphibians, bird eggs and fruit. It takes much of its food while walking on the ground. It colonizes cleared areas within its range. It has even been seen picking small invertebrates from the fur of Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths. La Palmita’s research center has recorded 250 bird species and 39 bat species in the flooded savannas of Trinidad. IUCN lists the Yellow-headed Caracara as Least Concern, with an increasing population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100. La Palmita conserves its flooded savannas through its cattle ranching and has welcomed visitors since 2013, so every stay supports sustainable tourism in the region.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) belongs to the family Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2020), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List