Salt Grass Flats - Celebrating Gulf Coast Birds
Tips & Trips
Field
Guides
Scenic Trips
Birds
American Bittern
American Coot
Belted Kingfisher
Black-necked Stilt
Black Vulture
Caracara
Common Moorhen
Cormorants
Double-crested
Neotropical (Olivaceous)
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Phoebe
Great Egret
Great Horned Owl
Killdeer
Little Blue Heron
Loggerhead Shrike
Pelicans
Cooperative Fishing
Roseate Spoonbill
Tricolor Heron
Turkey Vulture
Snowy Egret
White-fronted Goose
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Wildlife
Reptiles
Alligators
Green Anole
Red-Eared Slider
Snakes
Mammals
Armadillo
Bobcat
River Otter
Wildlife Rehab
Field Notes
Where have you been?
What wildlife have you seen?
What behavior did you observe?
Share your experiences here!
Ask questions of experts.
Receive identification help.
Post your questions, photos and
observations here!
Email Us
Join the update list
Click here! |
The Sibley Guide to Birds contains marvelous illustrations originally drawn by the author using watercolors. This is a great identification guide, not only for adult birds, but juveniles, also. |
|
|
Northern Caracara
Caracara cheriway
Wingspan: 48"
Length: 20 - 23"
Weight: 2.2 pounds
M/F outwardly similar
|
|
 |
|
The Northern Caracara, much like the "other" side of one's family, is a strikingly, beautiful bird as long as you can ignore its habits.
This gorgeous bird, formerly known as the Crested Caracara, is the national bird of Mexico.
Caracara are primarily ground dwelling falcons (Falconidae) inhabiting open prairies. They are large brown birds with a distinguishing black crest and bare red face. The red on their faces becomes a bright yellow when excited. They have a white throat and neck. The upper part of their back, base of their tail and wingtips are also creamy white.
|
|
Caracara are often seen in pairs.
They are sometimes referred to as the "king of the buzzards" because of their propensity for muscling aside vultures to feast on carrion. Although considered scavengers they have the most varied diet of any bird of prey, including scratching the ground for insects and killing small mammals, reptiles and fish.
|
|
|
They are strong fliers, flying rapidly with deep wing strokes alternating with short glides, often gliding low over the ground twisting and turning similar to harriers. In flight they show white patches near the tips of their wings. Their white breast and white tail help in distinguishing them from black vultures when in flight.
With their long legs and strong feet they are quite adept at walking and can be seen doing so quite often.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Northern Caracara often nest in live oaks, palmetto hammocks, palms, mesquite or cactus, rarely on the ground. They are not migratory and can be found on prairies or savannahs in Florida (where they are becoming rare), southern Texas and Arizona, along the Texas Gulf coast and south to South America.
|
|
 |
|
