A. Travaini et al., Food habits of the Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) in the Andean Patagonia: the role of breeding constraints, J ARID ENV, 48(2), 2001, pp. 211-219
Crested caracara (Caracara plancus) in Patagonia have a generalist diet, fe
eding mainly on mammalian carrion and arthropods. Vertebrate prey (mammals,
birds and reptiles) are primarily captured to feed nestlings and marginall
y as food for breeding or immature adults. Immature birds are less selectiv
e in their diet than breeding adults, consuming mainly large carrion and ar
thropods. This may be caused by intraspecific hierarchical interactions whe
re immature birds are displaced by adult breeding birds to less profitable
prey. On the other hand, differences between breeding adults and nestlings
fit central place foraging theory predictions. Adults consume smaller prey
(mostly arthropods), and take larger prey (mostly vertebrates) to the nest.
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