Found in the Clutter – Caracara

Found while reviewing some photographs from a past trip. The Crested Caracara, sometimes called the “Mexican Eagle”, resides in Mexico, Cuba, Central America and South America. It shows up in a few small areas in Arizona, Texas and Florida. This one was photographed in Texas in 2019.

It looks like a hawk but it is a falcon. It’s a medium sized bird at 19-23 inches (49-58 cm). It has a bit of vulture in its nature as it seems to mostly eat carrion and will follow vultures to get access to a carcass. But its diet also includes anything it can catch in the open areas it prefers. This includes insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Unlike most falcons, they chase their prey rather than pouncing on them. They regularly walk on the ground and can run down prey.