Crested Caracara

Juvenile Crested Caracara, Laguna Atascosa NWR, TX, 21 June 2004.

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Crested Caracara, immature; Texas, December

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A tropical falcon version of a vulture, the Crested Caracara reaches the United States only in Arizona, Texas, and Florida. It is a bird of open country, where it often is seen at carrion with vultures.

Description

Large, long-legged raptor. Black cap with short crest at back. Pale sides of back and neck. Bare red skin on face. Black body. White tail with wide black tip. White patches at ends of dark wings. Faint barring on upper back and breast.

• Size: 49-58 cm (19-23 in)
• Wingspan: 120 cm (47 in)
• Weight: 1050-1300 g (37.07-45.89 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, female slightly larger.

Sound

Mostly silent. Makes hollow rattling when disturbed.

Conservation Status

Populations in United States have declined historically, but currently appear stable or slightly increasing. Classified as "threatened" in Florida. Common and widespread throughout Neotropics.

Other Names

Caracara du Nord (French)
Carancho, Caraira, Quelele, Totache (Spanish)
Audubon's Caracara (English)

Cool Facts

• A common subject of folklore and legends throughout Central and South America, the Crested Caracara is sometimes referred to as the ?Mexican eagle.?

• Although it looks like a long-legged hawk and associates with vultures, the Crested Caracara is actually in the same family as falcons.

Sources used to construct this page:

References Morrison, J. L. 1996. Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus). In The Birds of North America, No. 249 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.