Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Birds photographed in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, February 2011.
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Bird photographed within the confines of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona, February, 2022.
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Bird photographed in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, March 2021. Photograph and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Photographs taken in the coastal area of Yavaros, Sonora, March 2017 and December 2018. Photographs and identifications courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Photograph taken in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, April 2024. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway. Photograph taken in the coastal region of Costa Rica, February 2023. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.
Background and Identification
The Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway, is a member of the Falconidae Family of Falcons and Caracaras. This species is also known as the Northern Caracara and the Mexican Eagle and is known for its striking appearance and aggressive bird-of-prey behavior. It is easily recognized by its bold plumage, strong bill, and long legs. All of these features give it a more terrestrial appearance compared to other raptors. Crested Caracaras are known for their opportunistic feeding habits, often seen scavenging roadkill or following vultures to carrion. Unlike many falcons, they are often found walking on the ground or soaring on thermals. Their flight is slow and deliberate, with heavy wingbeats, unlike the more agile falcons. They feed primarily on carrion with their diets supplemented with a wide variety of live vertebrate and invertebrate prey, including amphibians, birds, eggs, fish, mammals, and reptiles. In Mexico, the Crested Caracara is called Aguila Mexicana.
The Crested Caracara is a medium-sized raptor, with an average overall length of 49-64 cm. Females are slightly larger than males in overall measurements. Adult birds have a black crown and crest, a pale face with orange or yellowish skin, and a dark brown to black body. The lower body, including the chest and underparts, is streaked with white. The wings and tail are dark with white tips, creating a strong contrast in flight. Their bill is hooked and ivory-colored. Juveniles and first-year birds are similar to adults, but the plumage is warm-brown instead of being barred and black.
Habitat and Geographical Range
The Crested Caracara is highly adaptable and can thrive in both arid and semi-humid environments. They are found in desert scrub on the plains and small hills that have cardon cactus, cholla cactus, mesquite, and palo verde.
The Crested Caracara has a wide range, extending from the southern United States, particularly Texas, Florida, and Arizona, through Mexico, Central America, and into South America as far south as northern Argentina. In Mexico, they are found throughout Baja California Sur and in the northern mainland, except in the northern plateau, south to the northwest portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. Also found in the lowlands along the Pacific Slope in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. They are found at elevations below 1,600 m (5,250 feet). In the United States, they are common in the open landscapes of Texas and parts of Florida, where they can be spotted foraging along the roadside or in fields. This species is said to be the perfect balance between the predator nature of an eagle and the carrion-eating vultures.
Common Misidentifications
The Crested Caracara can be confused with the Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura aura, due to its habit of scavenging and its soaring flight. However, the Caracara’s distinctive facial markings, including its orange facial skin and striking black and white plumage, set it apart. Its flight pattern is also slower and the Caracara has a physical appearance more like a Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, or a juvenile Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
Conservation Status
From a conservation perspective, the Crested Caracara is categorized by the IUCN as Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. However, certain localized populations, particularly in the United States, are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and human encroachment. In Florida, for example, habitat destruction caused by development has impacted local populations, prompting some conservation efforts.