# Crested Caracara (*Caracara plancus*) The Crested Caracara is a striking bird with a cool crest on its head. It loves to roam around open areas and is often seen walking on the ground looking for tasty snacks like insects and small animals. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Caracara ![Crested Caracara](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Schopfkarakara.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schopfkarakara.jpg) ## Appearance The Crested Caracara is a distinctive raptor with a black cap, white neck, and barred chest. It has a striking orange-red face, yellow legs, and a stout, hooked bill. Its plumage is dark brown to black above with white wing patches, making it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Falconiformes - **Family:** Falconidae - **Genus:** Caracara ## Interesting facts - Crested Caracaras are actually falcons, but they act more like eagles or vultures! - Its bright orange-red face can flush yellow when it's excited or agitated! - These unique birds often walk and run on the ground more than they fly high! - They are the national bird of Mexico, known affectionately as the 'Mexican Eagle'! ## Special abilities - **Ground Patrol:** Crested Caracara can walk and run efficiently on the ground because of its long legs, helping it hunt prey and scavenge. - **Omnivore's Advantage:** Crested Caracara has a varied diet, eating insects, small animals, and carrion, which helps it find food in many situations. - **Clever Explorer:** Crested Caracara has high intelligence and curiosity, which helps it adapt to different environments and find diverse food sources. - **Food Bandit:** Crested Caracara can steal food from other birds or mammals because of its bold nature, helping it get an easy meal. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 49-60 cm - **Wingspan:** 120-132 cm - **Weight:** 1-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding This resourceful bird eats almost anything it can find, from insects to small animals. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Lizards, Snakes, Small mammals, Carrion, Eggs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Black Vulture](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-vulture) (*Coragyps atratus*) — Often associates with vultures to find carrion. - **Hunts:** [Six-lined Racerunner](https://www.snappit.app/explore/six-lined-racerunner) (*Cnemidophorus sexlineatus*) — Actively pursues and eats small lizards. - **Hunts:** [Hispid Cotton Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hispid-cotton-rat) (*Sigmodon hispidus*) — Catches small rodents in open fields. - **Eats:** [American Bird Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bird-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca americana*) — Forages for large insects on the ground. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild birds. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Crested Caracara? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Crested Caracara? 49-60 cm ### What is Crested Caracara's wingspan? 120-132 cm ### How much does Crested Caracara weigh? 1-1.6 kg ### How long does Crested Caracara live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Crested Caracara move? 50 km/h ### What does Crested Caracara eat? This resourceful bird eats almost anything it can find, from insects to small animals. ### Where is Crested Caracara usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Paseo Arts District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-arts-district) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Bricktown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bricktown) — Oklahoma, US · Neighborhood - [King Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-ranch) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Myriad Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/myriad-botanical-gardens) — Oklahoma, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Crested Caracara](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/crested-caracara) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Crested Caracara: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crested-caracara)