Daptrius ater
Silhouette: Kai Caspar · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
The black caracara (Daptrius ater) is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae that is found in Amazonian and French Guianan lowlands, mainly occurring along rivers. It was formerly the only species placed in the genus Daptrius but based on genetic studies the genus now includes species that were formerly placed in the genera Milvago and Phalcoboenus.
Since migration has not been observed, they are considered resident, or sedentary, remaining in the tropics year round. The black caracara is a widespread and sociable raptor, often spotted in groups of 2–5 individuals in tall trees. Nests, built from sticks and usually containing 2–3 brown-spotted eggs, have been observed high in trees, yet little is known of their breeding habits or reproduction. Typical of caracaras, D. ater is an omnivore as well as an opportunist, known simultaneously as a predator, scavenger and a forager; together with other American raptors, particularly the Cathartidae (new world vultures) and the condors, the black caracara benefits the greater environment by consuming carrion.
The black caracara was formally described in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot under the binomial name Daptrius... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 2 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 7 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 8 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arequipa zoo | 🇵🇪 Peru |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caracara sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve on a given day, based on 313 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 328 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March, August and December–January
In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caracara in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve on a given day, against about 30% in April and September–October, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Caracara sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 8 parks where we can rate Black Caracara sightings, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Yasuní National Park (Ecuador, about 20%) and Amacayacu National Natural Park (Colombia, about 20%). All parks ranked.
Same family: Falconidae
The closest relatives of the Black Caracara that you can see in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (family Falconidae, Falcons and Caracaras) are Laughing Falcon (about 10%), Bat Falcon (about 10%) and Red-throated Caracara (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Caracara is recorded against all the birds logged in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (313 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
