Daptrius
Daptrius is a genus of birds of prey in the family Falconidae that are found only in South America other than the yellow-headed caracara that also occurs in Costa Rica and Panama. The genus includes species previously placed in the genera Milvago and Phalcoboenus.
Taxonomy
The genus Daptrius was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, Datrius ater Vieillot, the black caracara. This is the type species. The genus name is from Ancient Greek δαπτης/daptēs meaning "bloodsucker" or "eater", from δαπτω/daptō meaning "to devour".This genus now includes species that were formerly placed in the genera Milvago and Phalcoboenus. Molecular genetic studies found that Milvago was polyphyletic with the chimango caracara sister to the genus Phalcoboenus and the yellow-headed caracara sister to Daptrius. As the genetic divergence was relatively shallow, the polyphyly was resolved by expanding the genus Daptrius to include the two other genera.
The genus contains seven species:
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
| Yellow-headed caracara | Daptrius chimachima | Costa Rica to north Argentina | |
| Black caracara | Daptrius ater | Amazonia | |
| Chimango caracara | Daptrius chimango | southern South America | |
| Carunculated caracara | Daptrius carunculatus | Ecuador and southwest Colombia | |
| Mountain caracara | Daptrius megalopterus | Peru to central Chile | |
| White-throated caracara | Daptrius albogularis | south Chile and south Argentina | |
| Striated caracara | Daptrius australis | Tierra del Fuego, Isla de los Estados, Navarino Island, and Falkland Islands |
Fossil species
- †Daptrius brodkorbi
- †Daptrius alexandri
- †Daptrius carbo, Cuban caracara
- †Daptrius diazfrancoi