Birdsong field guide
Guadalupe Caracara
Caracara lutosa
An extinct bird of prey endemic to Guadalupe Island, the Guadalupe Caracara was a generalized scavenger and predator known for its bold behavior and lack of fear toward humans.
What it sounds like
Described as a harsh, rattling cackle or a series of grating, repetitive notes.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto
Field notes
- The species was intentionally exterminated by goat herders who considered them pests, leading to its extinction around 1903.
- It was less boldly marked than the extant Crested Caracara, featuring finer barring and a more uniform brownish-black plumage.
- Early naturalists described the bird as exceptionally tame, often approaching humans out of curiosity rather than flight.
- It occupied the apex scavenger niche on its remote island home, feeding on carcasses, insects, and small birds.
- It is one of the few birds of prey to have gone completely extinct in the modern era due to direct human persecution.
Habitat
Open scrubland, volcanic cliffs, and grasslands of a remote oceanic island.
Range
Guadalupe Island, Mexico (Pacific Ocean).
Similar & commonly confused birds
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