From Opus

Photo by JBerard
Florida, USA

Caracara cheriway

[edit] Identification

L. 21 in (54 cm)
W. 48 in (120 cm)

• Distinctive shape
• Long neck and legs
• Dark with white ends
• In flight, a large and conspicious whitish patch ("window") can be seen in the primaries
• Tail is pale with faint barring and a dark tip

[edit] Similar Species

Very similar to the closely related Southern Caracara, which see.

[edit] Distribution

North, Central and northern South America. In North America breeds in southern Arizona, southern Texas and east along the Gulf Coast into Louisiana and in south-central Florida. Also a rare breeder in southern New Mexico and breeds from Baja California and northern Mexico south to Panama. In South America it occurs throughout most of the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, W. Ecuador, NW Peru, and N. Brazil as far south as the Rio Amazon region. Also breeds in Cuba and the Isle of Pines and has occurred as a vagrant in Jamaica. Common over most of range, but scarcer in the USA. Resident.

Photo by CurtMorgan
Locality: Florida, USA

[edit] Taxonomy

Also known as the Northern Caracara
Previously considered conspecific with the Southern Caracara. Following the split, the Crested Caracara become Caracara cheriway, while the Southern is Caracara plancus. Sometimes also includes the now extinct Guadalupe Caracara.

[edit] Habitat

A range of habitats including arid scrubland and semi-desert, open woodland and riverine woodland, savanna with scattered trees, mangrove swamps and shorelines in some areas. Often near humans. Generally avoids densely forested regions (e.g. the Amazon), where largely resticted to the vicinity of rivers.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

This bird will feed on snakes, lizards, fish, turtle eggs, small mammals, and other live animals, but will readily feed on carrion as well. The name in Spanish is Caracara quebrantajuesos, which means bone breaker. They crack open and eat the marrow from carrion bones.

[edit] Breeding

Nests in trees, shrubs, or cactus. Usually lays 2 or three eggs.

[edit] External Links