Across the vast open landscapes of the Americas, one raptor stands out for its behavior, posture, and feeding habits. The caracara often mistakenly called the “caracara eagle” actually belongs to the falcon family. This opportunistic predator embodies a form of intelligence and adaptability rarely seen among birds of prey.
Article by Damien Lafon and Photographs by Svetlana Markoff
A misunderstood classification
Despite its eagle-like appearance, the caracara is not part of the Accipitridae family. It belongs to the Caracara genus within the Falconidae, alongside falcons and kestrels. The best-known species, Caracara plancus, is known by several names: crested caracara, southern caracara, or white-throated caracara.
Another species, Caracara cheriway, referred to as the northern caracara or yellow-headed caracara, is found from the southern United States to Central America. It inhabits semi-open plains, marshes, and agricultural lands.
Researchers agree on one point: the caracara occupies a unique niche in the world of raptors. Its social behavior, terrestrial movement, and feeding strategy set it apart.
The Caracara, a cunning terrestrial bird
Unlike most falcons, which hunt in flight, the caracara often moves around on foot. It walks, runs, and scavenges carcasses much like a crow would. Its slow but determined gait allows it to explore roadsides, slaughterhouses, and garbage dumps.
Though equipped with a hooked beak and strong talons, it prefers scavenging over hunting. It feeds on animal remains, insects, eggs, small reptiles, and nestlings. Its dietary flexibility makes it a true ecological opportunist.
Several studies in Texas and Mexico have recorded intimidation behaviors. Caracaras have been seen driving away other scavengers, such as turkey vultures or black vultures, to claim a carcass.
Remarkable intelligence
Ethologists have highlighted the caracara’s cognitive flexibility. At Cornell University, tests showed this bird can solve simple problems, use its beak as a tool, and navigate around obstacles to reach food.
Its behavior is often compared to that of some of the most intelligent birds, such as crows and magpies. Some caracaras are known to open trash bags precisely, lift lids, or even cooperate in pairs to steal prey from other species.
These observations, though still limited, are drawing increasing attention from ornithologists.
Did you know?
Caracaras can live up to 25 years in captivity. In the wild, their lifespan is generally shorter, around 12 to 15 years.
Modest wingspan, striking plumage
The caracara measures between 50 and 65 cm in length, with a wingspan of 110 to 130 cm. Its black, brown, and white plumage forms clear contrasts: a black crown, white neck, and dark wings edged with white. Its bluish-gray beak ends in a black tip. Long, strong legs give it excellent stability on the ground.
Its call—a hoarse, guttural sound is sometimes compared to that of a parrot. It is commonly used in social communication, especially within groups.
During courtship displays, pairs engage in loud vocalizations and synchronized flight. The pair typically remains bonded for several seasons, sometimes for life.
Vast range and opportunistic nesting
The caracara claims territory in open environments: savannas, pastures, coastal deserts, and mangroves. It has been observed at elevations of up to 3,000 meters in the Andes and Mexican highlands.
The nest, often rudimentary, is built in trees, cacti, or even utility poles. It’s made from twigs, plant material, and sometimes includes plastic or cloth scraps.
The female lays one to three eggs. Both adults share incubation duties, which last about 30 days. The young remain in the nest for six to eight weeks before fledging.
The caracara, a visible species, but under surveillance
Classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN, the caracara does not currently benefit from global protection status. Nevertheless, habitat destruction, pollution, and vehicle collisions pose increasing threats.
In some areas such as Florida and southern Brazil local populations have declined. Awareness campaigns and GPS tracking initiatives are growing.
Several NGOs have launched citizen science programs, especially in the United States, to better understand caracara habits, migrations, and sensitive zones.
Did you know?
Although classified as falcons, caracaras rarely dive to hunt. They prefer cunning and opportunism.
A presence in myths and cultures
In the Andes, caracaras appear in legends as earth spirits or messengers. Their scavenging behavior, often misunderstood, has earned them a mixed reputation.
Among Indigenous Amazonian peoples, some stories associate the caracara with vigilance, endurance, or intelligence. For the Mapuche in Chile, its slow but steady flight symbolizes patience.
In Mexican popular culture, the caracara appears on the national coat of arms in a stylized form resembling the golden eagle. This confusion illustrates its strong presence in the collective imagination.
The caracara, symbol of adaptation
Often mistaken for an eagle, the caracara reveals a lesser-known dimension of the raptor world. Neither a strict predator nor a simple scavenger, it operates somewhere in between. Its intelligence, adaptability, and resilience in disturbed environments make it a key player in the open ecosystems of the Americas.
To understand the caracara is to rethink our perception of birds of prey not as static symbols of strength, but as adaptive species, deeply rooted in their environment and capable of evolving amid the challenges posed by humans and nature alike.
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