Birds · Falconiformes · Falconidae
Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
Unlike the typical falcons, fast and agile in flight, it is an atypical member of the family Falconidae that walks about on the ground and scavenges much as a vulture does.
Weight
900 g – 1.6 kg
Size
50 cm – 65 cm
Lifespan
25 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- It forms monogamous pairs that stay together until one of them dies.
- It eats carrion, small vertebrates and invertebrates, often walking about on the ground to find them.
- It lives in open grassland, savannah and semi-arid country from the southern United States to Tierra del Fuego.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Open grassland, savannah and semi-arid country from the southern United States to Tierra del Fuego
- Birth weight
- Born altricial, ~51 g at birth
- Size at birth
- ~51 g at birth
- Sexual maturity
- 3 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 28-32 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 2 to 3 eggs per clutch
- Lifespan in captivity
- Documented record of up to 25.8 years
Sources consulted: US FWS; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Audubon Field Guide; Animalspot.net; A-Z Animals; Scientificlib.com; Animal Diversity Web; Active Wild; Animalia.bio
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in South America, by day; it is very easy to see in open country and along roads, where it takes advantage of roadkill.
Where to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 53 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Crested Caracara — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Bat Falcon
Falco rufigularis
Red-winged Tinamou
Rhynchotus rufescens
Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata
Smooth-billed Ani
Crotophaga ani
Jabiru
Jabiru mycteria
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about crested caracara.
Comments
Share an experience, a fun fact or a tip for seeing the crested caracara.
Be the first to comment.