Caracara
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae Genus & Species: Polyborus plancus
The crested caracara is depicted on the Mexican flag and is believed to be an omen of good luck.
Habitat
Preferring open country, the crested caracara inhabits areas of semi desert,
grassland, riverbanks, marshes and savannah. It has adapted to man made habitats and
is often seen on large cattle ranches and along highway verges. Although usually
found in the lowlands, the caracara has also spread into hilly and mountainous regions in
recent years. It has been recorded at up to 3800m in the Andes Mounntains.
What they eat
The caracara will eat earthworms, beetles, reptiles and fish as well as large
mammals and carrion. It flies back and forth over its home range looking for dead or
dying animals. Its main source of carrion are domestic animals, but it will frequent
rubbish tips and slaughterhouses on the lookout for scraps. When hunting small
animals, the caracara will either pounce from the air or give chase on the ground.
Typical prey items include snales, lizards, frogs, mice and invertibrates.
They also raid eggs and chicks from colonies of birds. On rare
occasions, they will even target the nests of other species of caracara. Its most
unusual feeding strategy is to pursue vultures, gulls, pelicans and smaller caracaras in
flight, staying on their tails and forcing them to regurgitate their food. It then
grabs the prize in mid air.
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The crested caracara breeds from January to June in the southern USA, and from July to February in the far south of its range, and any time of the year nearer the Equator. They normally build their nest in an isolated tree but will nest on the ground if no tree is available. The female lays up to four eggs and these are incubated by both sexes. The newly hatched chicks have a pinkish brown down, and both parents share the responsibility of feeding them. After fledging, juveniles wander for around three years before finding a mate. |
| Behaviour Allthough it can fly and run swiftly, the crested caracara spends long periods perched as still as a statue. Perched on trees, telegraph poles etc, the caracara surveys its surroundings for signs of prey. Each pair occupies the same home range all year round. The adult caracara does not migrate or wander far from its home range, although a few will make short journeys to an area where foood is seasonally plentiful. Individuals gather along the River Paraguay from June to October to feast on fish. |
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