ComingsBirds.com/Birdgroups-A-L

To the Beauty of Birds

The Northern Crested Caracara, Northern Caracara, or Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae and subfamily of Polyborinae which include caracaras, forest flacons and Laughing Falcons. Unlike the Falco falcons in the same family, the cacacaras are not fast-flying aerial hunters, but are rather sluggish and often scavengers.

I have always been intrigued by the Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway. It is such an imposing and regal looking bird of prey. Its black-crown on top of a white neck makes it look like it is wearing a toupee. Photos 1103-1135 were taken at the LA Zoo. It was unlabeled and in the same cage as the Red-tailed Hawk.
The 2000 series photos (except 2590) were taken in Florida. I doubted that I would be fortunate enough to get a picture of it in the wild so when I read that one was at the Florida Audubon Center for Birds of Prey north of Orlando I paid it a visit. The diagonal patterns are reflections from the wire cage. Also in the cage was a Turkey Vulture that was intent on picking at its feathers (2264).

The last five phots were taken at Hacienda Solimar, Costa Rica.

Crested Carcara