A formidable parrot
The pinpiercer

Among the birds of prey in Antarctica, large hawks like the bulletfalcon have been the most affected by the disappearance of brontosparrows due to global cooling. Only small species have managed to survive, adapted to hunting flying birds and small mammals. While still relatively common and diverse, these raptors now occupy a lower position in the food chain, making way for a relatively new group of carnivorous birds: the parstrikers. The expansion of these carnivorous parrots is demonstrating their adaptive potential on the Antarctic continent, with an almost cosmopolitan distribution, ranging from the temperate forests of Relic to the expanding polar ice pack.

The size of parstrikers varies greatly, from a few hectograms to several kilos. Most species have adapted to prey on mammals and ground birds, although some have recently developed a preference for fish. The radiation of these majestic birds has only just begun, but it is already exhibiting various peculiarities, such as the case of the pinpiercer (Dolabraraptor antarcticus). This large parstriker is well-suited to coastal areas in the trample steppe, where it feeds on megafauna and the carcasses of large marine vertebrates.

One distinctive feature of the pinpiercer is the tip of its beak, which is unusually large and laterally compressed, even for a raptor. This characteristic might appear to hinder its hunting abilities, but it is actually the key to the success of this formidable predator. The facial musculature of the pinpiercer surpasses that of any other raptor and can exert extremely high pressures without sustaining damage. This force is employed to tear flesh apart: after grasping an unfortunate prey with its powerful talons, the pinpiercer proceeds to pierce the skin with the tip of its beak. Subsequently, the pinpiercer closes its jaws, pushing the upper jaw against the lower jaw, ripping the prey's skin and muscles. The mechanism works similarly to the one of a saber-toothed mammal.
The pinpiercer typically targets the neck of its prey, in order to damage the carotid: a well-placed bite would be immediately fathal for any medium sized mammal and brumble. Learning this technique fully may take up to five years for the newborn pinpiercers, although this timeframe is relatively short compared to their average lifespan of over 30 years.
When young, small pinpiercers often practice on deceased animals, using their beaks to slice off large chunks of meat, akin to a knife. This behavior is also commonly observed among breeding pairs of pinpiercers, as it allows them to transport as much food as possible to the nest while reducing the risk of kleptoparasitism from other predators, particularly Boitomb carnieri (formerly confined to the Boitomb archipelago but now found on the mainland as well).

In comparison to other parstrikers of the same weight, pinpiercers typically target larger prey. Adult individuals of this species rarely exceed 5 kilograms in weight, yet they are capable of killing animals ranging from 20 to 80 kilograms, with an average weight of around 45 kilograms (100 lbs). The most sought-after prey items include large rodents, as well as rostrids and inexperienced barkdowners who often fall victim to this formidable predator.