CARRAPATEIRO (AS KNOWN IN BRAZIL)

Milvago chimachima

The Yellow-Headed Caracara is a bird from the Falconidae family. It's one of the most well-known hawks in Brazil. It measures between 14 and 18 inches in length, with a wingspan of up to 29 inches. It has a yellowish-white head and body, dark brown back, black postocular stripe, and long wings with a white spot. The tail is long and dark brown.

It primarily feeds on parasites of cattle and horses, such as ticks. When ticks are not available, it eats caterpillars and termites, raids nests, and may also feed on fruits and other options. It builds large nests from dry branches, often in palm trees or other trees. The White-tailed Hawk is frequently found in cattle ranches, where it associates with them, removing ticks, and it can also be seen removing ticks from capybaras. It inhabits pastures, fields with scattered trees, suburban areas, and highway edges. In flight, it emits a sharp cry that sounds like "pinhé," a characteristic sound for its identification.

The White-tailed Hawk inhabits the entire Brazilian territory and can also be found in Central America, north of Uruguay and Argentina.