Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
Aves › Falconiformes › Falconidae › Caracara
Conservation status: least_concern
This raptor is often seen walking on the ground while looking for food. It feeds on carcasses of dead animals, but it also steals food from other raptors, raids bird and reptile nests, and takes live prey if the possibility arises.
How To Identify
This medium-sized raptor features rich brown plumage accented with striking yellow on the legs and chest. Its most notable feature is a prominent crest of feathers atop its head, which it can lift or fold depending on mood.
Habitat
It inhabits open and semi-open landscapes including grasslands, savannas, agricultural fields, and scrublands from the southern United States through Central and South America.
Behaviour
The Crested Caracara is highly vocal and social, often seen in small groups, and frequently feeds on carrion or hunts terrestrial prey by walking on the ground rather than diving from the air like typical raptors.
Did You Know?
The word "caracara" ultimately traces its origins to Old Tupi karakará. It is also known as the Mexican eagle, although it is not a true eagle.
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