Birds Of Prey And Waterbirds Codexery

Crested caracara

A bold, opportunistic raptor of the Americas.

Last updated

This species is restricted to the Americas, with its northernmost range being the southern United States.[1]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassAves
  4. OrderFalconiformes
  5. FamilyFalconidae
  6. GenusCaracara
  7. SpeciesCaracara plancus

Named by (Miller, JF, 1777)

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Crested caracara (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 1485175 (CC BY 4.0)

Conservation status

Least Concern (LC)

  1. LC▲ this species
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX
Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2023

Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category

How big is it?

Size comparison: Crested caracara and a personA 0.65 m long crested caracara drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.65 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.65 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Crested caracara

Where the crested caracara has been recorded

Where the crested caracara has been recorded41 mapped locations from 1,428,631 GBIF occurrence records

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (1,428,631 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 470 inland records left out (institution coordinates).

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)

Biology and range

The cap, belly, thighs, most of the wings, and tail tip are dark brownish.[2] It mainly feeds on carcasses of dead animals, but also steals food from other raptors.[3] The breeding season for caracaras is from January to March, with the usual clutch being two or three eggs.[4] Seven individuals from Tierra del Fuego had an average body mass of 1348 g, with the overall weight range being 0.9–1.6 kg.[5]

A relict population of northern crested caracaras, dating from the last glacial period, inhabits Florida.[6] The crested caracara frequently forages by walking on the ground.[3]

What the specialist sources record

The Peregrine Fund account notes that the Northern Crested Caracara is usually seen alone or in small family groups.[1] The Animal Diversity Web states that caracaras spread themselves thinly over a wide area, with each pair maintaining a large territory.[4] The Peregrine Fund account reports that the caracara is not a picky eater and has an extensive menu including small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.[1] The Animal Diversity Web records that caracaras have also been observed eating with vultures.[4]

The Peregrine Fund account explains that the caracara's crest is dense and when raised looks short and shaggy.[1] The Animal Diversity Web notes that the caracara was put onto the Endangered Species List in August 1987.[4] The Peregrine Fund account states that the Northern Crested Caracara is considered threatened in Florida due to habitat loss.[1]

References

  1. "Crested Caracara | the Peregrine Fund". facts only, no text reused. peregrinefund.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Crested caracara" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Crested Caracara | the Peregrine Fund" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Crested caracara" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Caracara cheriway (Crested caracara)", Animal Diversity Web; "Crested Caracara | the Peregrine Fund"; "Caracara cheriway (Crested caracara)", Animal Diversity Web; Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides. (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. "Caracara cheriway (Crested caracara)", Animal Diversity Web. facts only, no text reused. animaldiversity.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Crested caracara" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Info about the southern caracara at Zootierliste.de; CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses, 2nd Edition by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (2008), . (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Crested caracara" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Chapter VIII. Florida Relict Species", Resource Guide, August 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Crested caracara (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Same family (Falconidae)

Merlin (bird) Falco columbarius

Named in this entry

FalconGenus

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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