![]() (None of these traits sound very falcony to me.) The one thing they have in common with falcons is their love of meat. (Way too slow to be a falcon.) They have ridiculously longs legs and are fast runners. They are strong fliers, but not particularly fast. They are striking birds, with black bodies, white necks, red faces and blue beaks. The vast majority of these birds live in Mexico and in Central and South America. There is also a small isolated population breeding in central Florida. In the United States they breed in Texas and southern Arizona. The Crested Caracara is a medium-sized bird of prey that is most often found in grasslands, prairies and pastures. Maybe somebody should open a window for them. Falcons? Are they kidding? It appears that the researchers have been spending too much time in the lab, breathing formaldehyde fumes. ![]() For some reason, the folks in charge of such things think caracaras are falcons. Ornithologists don’t think caracaras are vultures, hawks or eagles. So, as you said, Nate, that should make them vultures, right? Nope, not right. But, unlike most hawks, they love to eat dead, rotting things. Only about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk, they are way too small to be eagles. Most folks think he’s more of a horse’s…never mind.Ĭrested Caracaras are unusual birds and ornithologists don’t quite know what to do with them. It’s like calling Sylvester Stallone the “Italian Stallion.” Nobody really thinks Stallone is a horse. However, in this case I think Peterson is merely referring to this bird’s colloquial name and not stating that caracaras are truly eagles. ![]() Heck, if he wants to call goldfinches “flying lemons” then that’s what they are going to be called. If RTP says caracaras are called “Mexican Eagles” that’s the end of the conversation. I’m not about to contradict anything Roger Tory Peterson has written. Wouldn’t a better name for them be “Mexican Vultures”? My Texas Peterson guide refers to them as the “Mexican Eagle,” yet I’m under the impression that caracaras are scavengers. Check out that muddy right foot and the incredible talon at the back of its foot.I’ve recently moved to Austin, TX and I’m looking forward to seeing new some birds, especially a Crested Caracara. Although the Crested Caracara is walking away, it has turned to look back. I’m not sure why, but it’s got a good grip on its toe now. Here it it holding a pecan in one foot while breaking it open and eating the nut inside. Caracaras are very social birds and, I believe, are very intelligent.Īlthough Crested Caracaras are meat (and carrion) eaters, it seems as if they also will eat pecans in these agricultural areas. You can see a number of pecan shells around its feet. By the way, Crested Caracaras are about two feet long with a four foot wingspan. Perhaps it had taken some from the trees. This Crested Caracara was walking along and examining the pecans that had fallen off of nearby pecan trees. It has long yellowish legs and a large black cap set against a white neck and yellow-orange face. ![]() These birds have a hawk’s typical large talons and sharp beak and is a black and white bird. The Crested Caracara in these photos was part of a small group found in agricultural fields of Santa Cruz Flats. Additionally, they will eat carrion as readily as they will eat live prey and their food choice ranges from insects to larger mammals. Crested Caracara are bulkier and usually catch their prey on the ground. Most falcons are sleek, bullet-shaped birds of prey who use speed to catch their prey. Crested Caracaras are raptors in the falcon family but they are more like distance cousins to falcons. Their looks alone place them in that category but they are more than just a ‘pretty’ bird. Crested Caracaras are one of the more unusual birds we have in Southern Arizona.
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