Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

Crested Caracara, Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway photo

Crested Caracara, Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

CRESTED CARACARA FACTS

Description
The Crested Caracara is a large black-brown bird with black crown and crest. The throat and sides of the neck are pale buff color and face has bare red skin. The legs are yellow and the bill is hooked and blue-gray in color. The tail is banded black and white, with broad black band at tip. Males and females are similar. Immature birds are similar to adults but duller in color.

Size
length 53cm - 58cm

Environment
open countryside, prairie, farmland

Food
The caracara eats fish, insects, frogs, reptiles, eggs, small birds, small mammals, carrion.

Breeding
Builds a bulky nest from vines and sticks, usually in a cabbage palm tree. Lays two or three eggs which hatch after about 32 days. Young leave the nest after about eight weeks.

Range
Caracaras are found in southern Arizona, New Mexico, eastern Texas, Mexico and Central America. There are isolated populations in Cuba, Louisiana, and central Florida

Classification

Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Caracara
Species:	cheriway
Common Name:	Crested Caracara

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