Caracara plancus cheriway

(Jacquin, 1784)

Vernacular names
English : Crested caracara
French : Caracara huppé

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Falconiformes
Family : Falconidae
Notes : 1 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach 58 cm in length for a weight of 1.3 kg. Silvery grey bill with bright orange cere. Subspecies with lack cap, white head, breast and back with black spotting and barring on back and lower breast. Rest of plumage black, wings mottled.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs in America, from South USA to Central America, south to Colombia, Guianas, north Brazil. Also on Cuba, Aruba, Trinidad. Lives in open woodlands, savannas, grasslands and shrublands, to 3000 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is common to locally abundant. Local declines known because of habitat clearing. The species has benefited from forest clearing.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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