Carunculated Caracara

*Top 50 Target Species

In Ecuador, the Carunculated Caracara is a distinctive high-Andean raptor, easily recognized by its pied plumage, orange facial skin, and wrinkled throat caruncles. It inhabits open páramo and high-altitude grasslands between 3,000 and 4,700 meters, often seen walking on the ground in small flocks, scavenging carrion or hunting small prey. Though generally uncommon, it is locally fairly common and considered non-migratory, with a stable population and an IUCN status of Least Concern. Its range is restricted to the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia, making it a charismatic emblem of Ecuador’s alpine ecosystems.