Lautaro Vidal's profile

Wildlife of El Chaltén

With a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters and a length of up to 1.3 meters from the beak to the base of its tail, the Andean Condor is one of the largest terrestrial flying birds in the world. They weigh between 9 and 16 kilograms, with the male being larger and heavier than the female. Males have a crest and brown eyes, while females have no crest and red eyes.
This scavenger bird reaches sexual maturity between 5 and 6 years of age and nests between 1000 and 5000 meters above sea level, usually loving rock formations very inaccessible.

As with the Bearded Vulture in Spain, its reproduction rate is very low, so it normally lays one egg every two years. In addition to being an emblematic bird due to its size and habitat, it is also one of the longest-lived birds in the world, living up to 75 years in captivity.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature labels the Andean Condor as a vulnerable species due to the decline of its populations due to habitat loss and poisoning caused by feeding on intoxicated animals or by poisoned bait illegally placed by hunters and ranchers.
This species is one of the smallest owls in South America. It is brownish to reddish in color, has a yellow iris and black spots bordered with white on the nape of the neck that simulate eyes. Austral Pygmy-owl inhabits humid and ecotone forests and shrub steppes; urban, suburban and rural areas. It feeds on small vertebrates and invertebrates.
It feeds on smaller birds, rodents, reptiles and even insects, which it captures at dusk and dusk, taking advantage of its excellent eyesight. Very voracious, it usually kills prey larger than its size, such as pigeons and wood pigeons.

Currently in Argentina, the greater scaup is considered a non-threatened species.
The Fire-eyed Diucon is generally solitary in behavior, in winter several individuals may gather in a small area. It usually perches in an open place, jumping to the ground after prey, less frequently hunting in flight.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, but also includes fruits, mainly in winter.
It is rather quiet, but occasionally emits a soft "pit" or "juit" call.
The Caracara Austral prefers to feed on carrion and can often be seen eating roadkill. It is also an opportunistic hunter that attacks young or injured animals, initially attacking the eyes, lips and anal area, so that the prey becomes progressively defenseless until it finally dies and is consumed.
Their movement is more terrestrial and they are more of a walker than other birds of prey.
In its flight it alternates flapping wings; it also tends to glide in circles. It emits a harsh and loud sound.
White-throated Caracara Inhabits from sea level to elevations of 3000 meters. It frequents places where there are trees as well as other practically uninhabited places, such as rocky cliffs.
The basic diet of this bird consists of carrion. It is seen in the company of vultures when feeding and builds its nest on rock ledges in the mountains.
Its characteristic and strong song, as well as its important size, 29 cm, help us to locate it. Chilean Flicker It inhabits the Patagonian Andean forest. The male has a black mottled malar line about 5 mm wide, not present in the female.
It feeds on insects, worms, and invertebrates that it forages in tree bark and soil. It nests in the trunks and also at the bottom of caves in earth ravines and lays up to 6 white eggs.
Black-billed Shrike-tyrant is generally solitary, perching on top of a rock, bush or low tree, from where it descends to the ground to capture prey, sometimes hovering briefly before attacking. While foraging it moves tirelessly and also runs on the ground. Sometimes it can appear gullible, but when it reacts it can fly low for long distances.

Their diet consists of large insects, small mammals, lizards, frogs, and also seeds.
Long-tailed meadowlark's chirping is unvaried, and pleasant. It lives in communities and in winter it is easy to distinguish it flying in flocks.
It feeds on arthropods, fruits, seeds and shoots of plants. Builds a cup-shaped nest hidden at the base of a clump of grass. They lay 3 to 5 light gray eggs with brown and reddish spots.
White-throated Treerunner is trusting, often seen at camp sites, foraging for scraps of food. It is a skilled "climber" of the trees, being able to descend upside down and turn in a spiral, since it looks for larvae and insects among the trunks. When searching for food, it makes a sound similar to that of a woodpecker.
It nests in the forest, in holes inside the trunks.
Common Diuca-finch spends most of its time pecking at the ground for food, but it also freely perches on bushes and low trees. In winters it gathers in small family groups.
Their diet basically consists of vegetables, seeds and some arthropods, especially during the breeding season. Occasionally eats fruits.
Magellanic Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in South America, exceeding 40 cm. It inhabits the Araucanian forest, especially those of species of the Nothofagus genus, such as the lenga, the cohiue, the ñire, the raulí, and the pellín oak, from the southern half of Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego.

Go through the trunks of the trees looking for insect larvae. With its strong beak it produces a characteristic tapping on the trunk that can be heard at a great distance and its song is shrill. They nest in hollow logs and lay up to four eggs.
Rufous-legged Owl is a bird of prey of the order of the strigiformes common in temperate forests in Chile and Argentina. Adults reach a length of 38 cm. Their diet is mainly based on rodents, including lizards and insects.
Wildlife of El Chaltén
Published:

Owner

Wildlife of El Chaltén

El Chaltén, land of giants, amazing landscapes and varied animal species. Together with four photographer friends we went into its autumn trails Read More

Published: