This noisy forest raptor feeds mostly on arboreal bees, wasps, and hornets, tearing their nests apart to obtain larvae. We watched this individual attack and destroy a small white cotton-like insect nest while a group of Black Caracaras watched. Mysteriously the wasps reportedly do not defend themselves against attack by the Caracara. This species was formerly included with the Black Caracara in the genus Daptrius, but recent studies found the two are not closely related. Red-throated Caracara is now classified in its own genus Ibycter which means "singer of war-songs," a reference to its loud, raucous cries. Although still widespread in the neotropics, this species has retracted from parts of its former range, especially in Middle America. It is now extirpated from Mexico. The main threat appears to be fragmentation of mature forests.