Daptrius ater
Silhouette: Kai Caspar · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
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 |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caracara sighting in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, based on 615 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 48th most-seen of the 550 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black Caracara in Tambopata National Reserve on a given day, against about 10% in April and June–July, the lowest months. That is one of Tambopata National Reserve's wettest months, with about 400 mm of rain against 45 mm in July.
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.
4th of 8
Of the 8 parks where we can rate Black Caracara sightings, Tambopata National Reserve ranks 4th at about 20%. The best odds are in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador, about 40%), 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 Tambopata National Reserve (family Falconidae, Falcons and Caracaras) are Red-throated Caracara (about 20%), Bat Falcon (about 10%) and Laughing Falcon (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 Tambopata National Reserve (615 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.
