caracara
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Subfamily: Polyborinae
Genera:
Daptrius
Ibycter
Phalcoboenus
Caracara
Milvago
Species:
Black Caracara, Daptrius ater
Red-throated Caracara, Ibycter americanus - formerly in Daptrius
Carunculated Caracara, Phalcoboenus carunculatus
Mountain Caracara, Phalcoboenus megalopterus
White-throated Caracara, Phalcoboenus albogularis
Striated Caracara, Phalcoboenus australis
Northern (or Crested) Caracara, Caracara cheriway
Southern Caracara, Caracara plancus
Guadalupe Caracara, Caracara lutosa (extinct)
Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima
Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango
mountain caracara
The invention of the automobile provided a great benefit to the caracara. This large bird gets much of its food supply from the remains of animals killed on highways by passing traffic. The caracara is a scavenger, eating anything it can find, from carcasses on which vultures are feeding to insects and snails. It has a very powerful digestive system and the few indigestible parts it eats are regurgitated as pellets. This bird has strong legs and spends most of its time on the ground. It is often seen sitting on fenceposts in South America, Mexico, and the extreme south of the United States.
Although it is sometimes called the "Mexican buzzard," the caracara is actually a long-legged, long-necked falcon. It is dark-colored, with white patches on its throat, breast, and tail. It has a distinctive black crest on top of its head.
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Subfamily: Polyborinae
Genera:
Daptrius
Ibycter
Phalcoboenus
Caracara
Milvago
Species:
Black Caracara, Daptrius ater
Red-throated Caracara, Ibycter americanus - formerly in Daptrius
Carunculated Caracara, Phalcoboenus carunculatus
Mountain Caracara, Phalcoboenus megalopterus
White-throated Caracara, Phalcoboenus albogularis
Striated Caracara, Phalcoboenus australis
Northern (or Crested) Caracara, Caracara cheriway
Southern Caracara, Caracara plancus
Guadalupe Caracara, Caracara lutosa (extinct)
Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima
Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango
mountain caracara
The invention of the automobile provided a great benefit to the caracara. This large bird gets much of its food supply from the remains of animals killed on highways by passing traffic. The caracara is a scavenger, eating anything it can find, from carcasses on which vultures are feeding to insects and snails. It has a very powerful digestive system and the few indigestible parts it eats are regurgitated as pellets. This bird has strong legs and spends most of its time on the ground. It is often seen sitting on fenceposts in South America, Mexico, and the extreme south of the United States.
Although it is sometimes called the "Mexican buzzard," the caracara is actually a long-legged, long-necked falcon. It is dark-colored, with white patches on its throat, breast, and tail. It has a distinctive black crest on top of its head.
