Crested caracara

Crested caracara
	An adult crested caracara inSerra da Canastra National Park,Brazil
Conservation status
	; Least Concern(IUCN 3.1)
	; Secure(NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Caracara
Species:	C. plancus
Binomial name
	Caracara plancus; (Miller, JF,1777)
Synonyms
	Polyborus plancus

Thecrested caracara(Caracara plancus), also known as theMexican eagle,^[3]is abird of prey(raptor) in thefalcon family,Falconidae.It was formerly placed in thegenusPolyborusbefore being given in its own genus,Caracara.It is native to and found in thesouthernandsoutheastern United States,Mexico(where it is present in everystate) and the majority of mainlandLatin America,as well as someCaribbean islands.The crested caracara is quite adaptable and hardy, for a species found predominantly in the neotropics; it can be found in a range of environments and ecosystems, includingsemi-aridanddesertclimates, maritime or coastal areas,subtropicalandtropical forests,temperateregions,plains,swamps,and even in urban areas. Documented, albeit rare, sightings have occurred as far north asMinnesotaand theCanadian provincesofOntarioandPrince Edward Island.^[4]The southern extent of the crested caracara's distribution can reach as far asTierra del FuegoandMagallanes Region,Chile.

Taxonomy

In 1777, English illustratorJohn Frederick Millerincluded a hand-coloured plate of the crested caracara in hisIcones animalium et plantarum( "icons of the animal and plant world" ). He coined thebinomial nameFalco plancusand specified thetype localityasTierra del Fuego.^[5]The specific epithetplancusisLatinfor "eagle".^[6]The crested caracara is now placed in the genusCaracara(which was introduced in 1826 by German naturalistBlasius Merrem).^[7]

Twosubspeciesare recognised:^[7]

C. p. cheriway(Jacquin,1784) –United States(Southern California,^[8]Arizona,Florida,Louisiana,New Mexico,Texas),^[9]México(present in everystate),^[10]Belize,El Salvador,Guatemala,Honduras,Nicaragua,Costa Rica,Panamá,Colombia,Venezuela,Ecuador,Guyana,Suriname,French Guiana,and northRoraima, Brazil;^[11]Caribbean islands ofCuba,Aruba,GuanajaandRoatán(Honduras), andTrinidad;the PacificIslas Marías(Mexico) andIsla del Rey(Panamá).^[11]Individual birds have been seen as far north asDallas, TexasandSanta Cruz, California.^[12]
C. p. plancus(Miller, JF,1777) – SEPerú,NBoliviatoEastern Brazil,south toTierra del Fuegoand theFalkland Islands.

The subspeciesC. p. cheriwaywas formerly classed as a separate species, with the common English name of the northern crested caracara.^[7]^[13]

Description

The crested caracara has a total length of 50–65 cm (20–26 in) and a wingspan of 120–132 cm (47–52 in). Its weight is 0.9–1.6 kg (2.0–3.5 lb), averaging 1,348 g (2.972 lb) in seven birds fromTierra del Fuego.^[14]^[15]Individuals from the colder southern part of its range average larger than those fromtropicalregions (as predicted byBergmann's rule) and are the largest type of caracara. In fact, they are the second-largest species of falcon in the world by mean body mass, second only to thegyrfalcon.^[15]The cap, belly, thighs, most of the wings, and tail tip are dark brownish, the auriculars (feathers surrounding the ear), throat, and nape are whitish-buff, and the chest, neck,mantle,back, upper tailcoverts,crissum(the undertail coverts surrounding thecloaca), andbasalpart of the tail are whitish-buff barred dark brownish. In flight, the outerprimariesshow a large conspicuous whitish-buff patch ('window'), as in several other species ofcaracaras.The legs are yellow and the bare facial skin andcereare deep yellow to reddish-orange. (The facial color can change depending on the bird's mood.)^[16]Juveniles resemble adults, but are paler, with streaking on the chest, neck, and back, grey legs, and whitish, later pinkish-purple, facial skin and cere.

Eggs,MHNT
Juvenile
Young adult
Adult
An adult and juvenile

Behavior

A bold, opportunisticraptor,the crested caracara is often seen walking around on the ground looking for food. It mainly feeds on carcasses of dead animals, but it also steals food from other raptors, raidsbirdandreptilenests, and takes live prey if the possibility arises; mostly this isinsectsor other small prey, such as smallmammals,small birds,amphibians,reptiles,fish,crabs,othershellfish,scorpions,maggots,andworms,but it can include creatures up to the size of asnowy egret.^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]It may also eat fruit such aspalm(Attalea phalerata) in the BrazilianPantanal.^[20]It is dominant over theblackandturkey vultureat carcasses. Furthermore, it also pirates food from them andbuteos,as well as frombrown pelicans,ibises,andspoonbills,chasing and harrying until they regurgitate or drop food.^[18]The crested caracara takes live prey that has been flushed by wildfire, cattle, and farming equipment. Locally, it has even learnt to follow trains or cars for food thrown out.^[18]The opportunistic nature of this species means that the crested caracara seeks out the phenomena associated with its food, e.g. wildfires and circling vultures.^[21]It is typically solitary, but several individuals may gather at a large food source (e.g. dumps). Breeding takes place in the Southern Hemisphere spring/summer in the southern part of its range, but timing is less strict in warmer regions. The nest is a large, open structure, typically placed on the top of a tree orpalm,but sometimes on the ground. The typical clutch size is two eggs.

Young adult, showing the distinctive light 'windows' in the wings
Adult
Beingmobbedby afork-tailed flycatcher
Young adult perched on a cactus,Bonaire,BES Islands
Northern crested caracara (Caracara plancus cheriway),Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge,Colorado County, Texas, USA
An immature bird surveying the surroundings in Texas, USA
An adult inPanama Viejo,Panamaforaging for food.

Distribution and habitat

The crested caracara occurs fromTierra del Fuegoin southernmost South America to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. An isolated population occurs on theFalkland Islands.It avoids theAndeanhighlands and dense humid forests, such as theAmazon rainforest,where it is largely restricted to relatively open sections along major rivers. Otherwise, it occurs in virtually any open or semi-open habitat and is often found near humans.

Reports have been made of the crested caracara as far north asSan Francisco,California.^[22]and, in 2012, nearCrescent City, California.^[23]Some are believed to possibly be living inNova Scotia,with numerous sightings throughout the 2010s.^[24]In July 2016 a northern caracara was reported and photographed by numerous people in the upper peninsula of Michigan, just outside ofMunising.^[25]^[26]^[27]In June 2017, a northern caracara was sighted far north inSt. George,New Brunswick,Canada.^[28]A specimen was photographed inWoodstock, Vermontin March 2020.^{[citation needed]}The species has recently become more common in central and north Texas and is generally common in south Texas and south of the US border.^{[citation needed]}It can also be found (nesting) in the Southern Caribbean (e.g.Aruba,CuraçaoandBonaire)^{[citation needed]},Mexico,andCentral America.

Florida caracara

Florida is home to arelict populationof northern caracaras that dates to thelast glacial period,which ended around 12,500BP.At that time, Florida and the rest of theGulf Coastwere covered in anoak savanna.As temperatures increased, the savanna between Florida and Texas disappeared.^[29]Caracaras were able to survive in theprairiesof central Florida and themarshesalong theSt. Johns River.Cabbage palmettosare a preferred nesting site, although they also nest insouthern live oaks.^[30]Their historical range on the modern-day Florida peninsula includedOkeechobee,Osceola,Highlands,Glades,Polk,Indian River,St. Lucie,Hardee,DeSoto,Brevard,Collier,andMartincounties.^[31]They are currently most common in DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Osceola Counties.^[32]It has been seen on the East Coast as far as extreme easternBrevard County, Florida(Viera, Florida), where it is now considered a resident, but listed asthreatened.In February 2023 a crested caracara was identified in St, Johns County, Florida and documented by The St. Johns County Audubon Society on their social media page.