#Crested Caracara

[corvidaemnit]

every single day I think about how american black vultures are known for engaging in interspecific allopreening (preening between different species)

and they have a specific relationship with crested caracaras, in which the black vultures assist them by not only preening them after meals but also leading them to food in the first place, while the caracaras assist the black vultures by acting as a warning signal in case of danger

and while this is more typical of black vultures, this is not common at all for any member of the falconidae family— it’s a special bond!

yet another post in favor of vultures everyone , hope you enjoy:) and I implore you to do some more research on these incredible birds !!

EDIT: I meant interspecific allopreening! excuse my typo!

EDIT 2: black vultures do not have a superior sense of smell to caracaras, sorry for the misunderstanding!

[alonglistofbirds]

sometimes I get stuck on a bird because there are too many amazing photos and I can't decide which one to pick

bulk crested caracara post to help me along (it worked! decision made)

[fatchance]

Crested caracara / caracara quebrantahuesos (Caracara cheriway), Pima County, Arizona.

The name caracara is probably imitative of the bird's call. The Spanish common name quebrantahuesos is literally bone breaker.

[stickynotebirds]

246. Crested Caracara

[birdblues]

Crested Caracara & Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

[evenstevenh]

Crested caracara doodles

[anam2s]

Can I request a crested caracara? I absolutely love your style!

Northern crested caracara (Caracara cheriway)

[na-bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Crested Caracara

Photo: Manjith Kainickara

"Related to the typical falcons, but very different in shape and habits. The Crested Caracara is a strikingly patterned, broad-winged opportunist that often feeds on carrion. Aggressive, it may chase vultures away from road kills. Widespread in the American tropics, it enters our area only near the Mexican border and in Florida. 'Caracara' comes from a South American Indian name, based on the bird's call."

- Audubon Field Guide

[midnight-darkfrost]

While it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me well that I love dragons, but there is one other thing that I love, and that's birds, especially birds of prey like falcons, eagles, hawks, and more. They are amongst some of my favorite animals, and I've been fascinated by them ever since I was a kid. Plus my two favorite animals are the peregrine falcon and harpy eagle.

[joowee-feftynn]

harpy

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)

(Photo by Suzie McCann)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Central America; South America; Southwestern United States

Size (Weight/Length)- 63 cm

Diet- Carrion; Insects; Birds; Mammals; Fish; Amphibians

Cool Facts- Surprisingly, the crested caracara is the second largest falcon in the world. The origins of these birds date back to the last glacial period where they scavenged from megafauna carrion. They are opportunistic predators today, where they eat almost anything. Ranging from stealing prey from smaller raptors and pelicans, to taking down prey flushed by wildfires, and even searching for circling vultures when looking for carrion. Some crested caracara have learned to follow cars with the hope that leftovers will be tossed out the window.

Rating- 13/10 (Can be found as north as Minnesota and as south as Peru.)

[alonglistofbirds]

[2750/11080] Crested caracara - Caracara plancus

Order: Falconiformes (falcons and caracaras) Family: Falconidae Subfamily: Polyborinae (caracaras)

Photo credit: Connor Cochrane via Macaulay Library

[lowcountry-gothic]

Birbfest Collection 2024, by Aga Więckowska.

[ouroboreas]

[spinus-pinus]

Crested Caracara Caracara plancus

5/10/2022 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, Florida

[tinylongwing]

Woke up wanting to paint a Crested Caracara, so I'm claiming this one for the Birdtober Oct. 14 free space. These guys are so curious, intelligent, scrappy and gorgeous all at once - I would love to get to work with them some day!