Known in the Falklands as 'Johnny Rook', or 'Jack Rook' where it is a resident breeder favouring outlying  islands and coasts where there are colonies of seals and seabirds.   

Length: 56 - 61 cm (22 - 24 inches). Rare bird of prey, unusually tame and bold. Blackish brown with dirty white striations to the neck and rusty leg feathers. Adults have yellow legs and skin around the beak, in juveniles it is an ashy grey.

Although locally common, this species is restricted to the Falkland Islands, southern islands of the Beagle Channel including Cape Horn Archipelago, Staten Island, Isla Noir and some islands off the west coast of Chile.                                           

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Striated caracaras as 'Near Threatened'.They are highly dependent on colonies of seabirds, seals and sea lions for food.

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: Ali Marsh, Jeremy Richards/Shutterstock.com, Robert Maddocks

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