Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima cordata)

This is an adult with a catfish. This widespread lowland species reaches the northernmost limit of its usual range in Costa Rica but has recently been reported expanding into Nicaragua. A bird of open country, it has benefited from deforestation in the tropics. Two races are recognized with the nominate race found south of the Amazon. Our bird is the northern M. c. cordata characterized by darker buff head and underparts, narrower dark tail bands, and less white in its wing.