Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
Unlike most falcons that hunt from the air, caracaras are highly terrestrial and are frequently seen running on the ground to catch prey or scavenge.
- Scientific name
- Caracara plancus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Falconiformes › Falconidae › Caracara
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open savannas, grasslands, pastures, and desert scrub with scattered trees for nesting.
- Diet
- Opportunistic generalist; consumes carrion, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and large insects.
- Range
- Southern United States, Central America, South America
- Size
- Wingspan of 120-132 cm; body length of 50-65 cm.
- Lifespan
- 9 to 15 years in the wild.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat conversion to intensive agriculture, vehicle strikes while scavenging on roadsides, and secondary poisoning from lead or pesticides.
- Safe to approach?
- The Crested Caracara is generally harmless to humans but is a powerful raptor. Observe from a distance of at least 20 meters to avoid disrupting its foraging behavior. Do not approach nesting sites or attempt to feed them. If you find an injured bird, do not handle it yourself; contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to avoid injury from its sharp beak and talons.
The crested caracara ( Caracara plancus ) is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found from the southern United States through Central and South America to Tierra del Fuego. It was formerly placed in the genus Polyborus .
Photo: Juan Cruzado Cortés, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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