Introduction

The distinctive Crested Caracara “combines the raptorial instincts of the eagle with the base carrion-feeding habits of the vulture” (Hudson 1920). Called ignoble, miserable, and aggressive, yet also dashing, stately, and noble, this medium-sized raptor, with its bold black-and-white plumage pattern and bright yellow-orange face and legs, is easily recognizable as it perches conspicu-ously on a high point within its territory. In flight it can be distinguished by its regular, powerful wing-beats as it cruises low across the ground or just above the treetops. Known locally as the “Mexican buzzard” for its habit of scavenging alongside vultures, the Crested Caracara is an opportunist and is commonly seen walking about open fields and pastures, feeding on a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate prey, as well as on carrion. The name “caracara” is said to be of Guarani Indian origin, traro-traro, derived from the unusual rattling vocalization that the bird utters when agitated.

The Crested Caracara is a bird of open habitats, typically grassland, prairie, pastures, or desert with scattered taller trees, shrubs, or cacti in which it nests. Adult pairs are generally monogamous and highly territorial, and exhibit strong site fidelity. Young remain with their parents for several months after fledging, although at some sites, two broods are raised per year. Consistently gregarious, immatures often congregate in groups, sometimes roosting and feeding with vultures.

While the Crested Caracara ranges from northern Mexico to Tierra del Fuego (Fig. 1), in the United States it occurs only along the southern border in Texas and Arizona, and in Florida, where there is an isolated population in the south-central peninsula. This species was first described in the United States in 1831 by John James Audubon, who collected a specimen near St. Augustine, Florida (Audubon 1840). Named for its founder, Caracara plancus audubonii is one of four currently recognized subspecies and is found in the southern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America, and Cuba. C. p. pallidus is found only on the Tres Marías Islands of western Mexico; C. p. cheriway and C. p. plancus occur in South America.

Although the Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Baja California, Mexico, populations have received recent attention, this species is relatively little studied throughout its range. Rapid urban and agricultural development in Florida has resulted in loss of nesting habitat, and in 1987 this population was classified as Threatened by both the federal government and the state of Florida. In parts of Texas and South America, expansion of the poultry industry, land-clearing, and habitat conversion to ranching and agriculture may be benefiting the species. In other regions, direct human persecution continues, primarily via shooting and poisoning, mostly because of negative attitudes towards scavengers.