Phalcoboenus australis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	FALCONIFORMES	FALCONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Phalcoboenus australis

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1788)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Forster's Caracara, Striated Caracara
Spanish	–	Caracara Austral, Matamico Estriado, Matamico Grande, Tiuque Cordillerano Austral

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Woods, R.

Justification:
This species is classified as Near Threatened because it has a moderately small population.

History:

2004	–	Near Threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Phalcoboenus australis is restricted to isolated shores, rookeries and islets off extreme south Argentina and Chile, including the south and east coasts of Isla Grande on Tierra del Fuego, Isla de los Estados, Navarino and Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)^1,3. It is rare in much of its range¹, but locally numerous on some of the smaller islands in the west Falklands^3,5. In 1983-1992, the population on the Falklands was estimated at 500-900 breeding pairs, with more recent surveys suggesting 500-650 pairs⁶. A 2006 survey found that the breeding population had not increased despite the species being protected by law since 1999 but was stable at around 500 pairs⁷.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Preliminary population estimate.

Population:

Preliminary population estimate.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occurs in open lowlands, from the tidal zone perhaps to low coastal mountains, and most typically along rocky coasts¹, feeding on dead adults and chicks of colonial seabirds, and insects and grubs along the tidal zone¹. It will attack weak or stranded sheep and, in groups, wild geese².
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It was heavily persecuted in the past on the Falklands¹, and is much reduced in numbers⁴. The immature population is probably only capable of replacing losses in the breeding population³, but none of the populations seem to be facing any major threats.

Major Threat(s):

It was heavily persecuted in the past on the Falklands¹, and is much reduced in numbers⁴. The immature population is probably only capable of replacing losses in the breeding population³, but none of the populations seem to be facing any major threats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. It is officially protected by Falklands Islands (Malvinas) law. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor breeding population on at least one island (including ringing to monitor juvenile mortality rate)⁷. Study ecology, dispersal, population dynamics and survival⁷. Assess incidence of damage to livestock and evaluate impact of species on sheep farming, then begin dialogue with farmers⁷.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It is officially protected by Falklands Islands (Malvinas) law.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor breeding population on at least one island (including ringing to monitor juvenile mortality rate)⁷. Study ecology, dispersal, population dynamics and survival⁷. Assess incidence of damage to livestock and evaluate impact of species on sheep farming, then begin dialogue with farmers⁷.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Phalcoboenus australis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012.
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