Caracara (genus)


Caracara is a genus in the family Falconidae and the subfamily Polyborinae. It contains two extant species, the northern crested caracara and the southern crested caracara; and one extinct species, the Guadalupe caracara. The only visible difference between the two living species is that the southern species possesses more barred plumage than the northern species. The minor physical differences between these species resulted in their originally being treated as conspecific.

Appearance

The crested caracara is distinguished by its long legs and medium size. The birds can reach a length of from head to tail. There are usually four points of identification of the caracara: strikingly white markings on the neck, the tip of both wings, and the tail. Along with their medium length, the caracara also has a wingspan of. When flying, the caracara is often noted to have a pattern on their underside that looks like a cross.

Behavior

The behaviors of caracaras are considered quite strange in relation to other falcons. The bird is often seen walking on the ground in search of prey, using its long legs to maneuver its landscapes. In addition to a preference of walking over flying, the birds also create close bonds with their mates. These birds will also harass large species of birds in order to take the food they caught. In flight, this bird is known for having very direct flight. It does not soar for leisure.

Taxonomy

The northern and southern crested caracara are the only extant members of the genus Caracara.
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Caracara cheriwayNorthern crested caracaraCuba, northern South America and most of Central America and Mexico, just reaching the southernmost parts of the United States, including Florida
Caracara plancusSouthern crested caracaraTierra del Fuego in southernmost South America north to the Amazon River region and southern Peru.

Known from fossil records:
Remains of northern crested caracaras, slightly larger than those of modern times but otherwise identical, were found in the famous La Brea Tar Pits. In addition, the Guadalupe caracara may derive from an already distinct population of northern crested caracara in western Mexico that, subsequently, was displaced by the main continental population.