Birds
Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus · also called Mexican eagle
A crested caracara walks purposefully across open grassland on long legs, more interested in what it can scavenge or steal than in chasing anything down from the air. Classified within the falcon family, it behaves almost nothing like the fast, aerial hunters that name usually brings to mind.
Overview
The crested caracara, Caracara plancus, is a ground-foraging member of the falcon family found across open habitat from the southern United States to South America. It scavenges carrion and confidently steals food from other scavengers at a carcass.
A falcon that gave up the chase
Where most falcons built their reputation on speed and aerial pursuit, the crested caracara took a different path entirely, trading fast flight for long legs, ground-level opportunism, and a willingness to simply take food from whoever already has it.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across its extensive range from the southern United States to South America.
Crested Caracara: common questions
Why does the crested caracara act so differently from other falcons?
The crested caracara belongs to the falcon family but has evolved a largely ground-based, scavenging lifestyle quite different from the fast aerial hunting typical of true falcons, favouring long legs suited to walking across open ground and an opportunistic diet built around carrion rather than actively pursued live prey.
Does a crested caracara steal food from other animals?
Yes, a crested caracara will readily attempt to steal food from vultures and other scavengers gathered at a carcass, using an assertive, confrontational approach that can successfully displace even larger birds already feeding, a behaviour that reflects the species' generally bold and opportunistic feeding style.
Why is the crested caracara sometimes called the Mexican eagle?
The crested caracara carries the nickname Mexican eagle in certain regions due to its prominent presence, striking appearance, and cultural significance in parts of its range, where it holds symbolic importance despite not actually being a true eagle at all, since it belongs to the falcon family.
Where is the crested caracara found?
The crested caracara is native to open grassland, savanna, and scrubland habitat stretching from the southern United States through Central America and much of South America, generally favouring open areas that support its ground-based foraging and scavenging lifestyle.