Crested Caracara
Caracara cheriway
This confusing bird has traits that confound classification. It looks like a small eagle, behaves like a scavenging vulture, but has the bone structure of a falcon, which is where science classifies it (family Falconidae).
There are two species of caracara, both in the New World. One, Caracara plancus lives mostly south of the Amazon River in South America, and the other, Caracara cheriway lives north of the equator and has a range that includes parts of Texas and Arizona.
Modern science recognises three subspecies of Crested Caracara:
- C. c. pallidus lives on Islands off western Mexico.
- C. c. audubonii lives in the southern USA and south to Panama and Cuba.
- C. c. cheriway lives in Panama and northern South America to Peru, Brazil, Aruba and Trinidad.
So far, I’ve only been able to photograph this species on the Texas gulf coast. But I’ve frequently seen them on the roadsides of southern Texas and sometimes in Arizona. Roadside birds are wary of vehicles coming to a stop near them, and attempting to capture images is not practical. My favorite meetings took place one afternoon at Aransas NWR when I was visiting the Aransas Wildlife Tower, and having satisfactorily fed themselves, Crested Caracaras, Turkey Vultures, and Black Vultures settled in to roost at eye-level on the nearby tree-tops.
18 Photos
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
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Description: Caracaras kept an eye on our boat as we slowly passed by. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captain Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 11:56 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D504110-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
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Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:43 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506827-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:47 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506871-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:47 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506878-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:47 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506880-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Until this meeting, I'd been frustrated trying to capture images of Caracaras. This bird posed for me until another vehicle approached before taking off. I drove to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for an impropnt visit on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting new birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:47 |
|
Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 330 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D506887-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: When I pass the Oak Sanctuary, I usually see these snags filled with vultures. Today the caracara was my gift here as I exited the reserve. I’m no stranger to Aransas NWR, but I seem to have happy surprises whenever I visit. With weather warming, on this tour I met snakes, pigs, and Sedge Wrens (my first). |
Date Taken: 2021:03:12 11:48 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X2378-Aransas_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: When I pass the Oak Sanctuary, I usually see these snags filled with vultures. Today the caracara was my gift here as I exited the reserve. I’m no stranger to Aransas NWR, but I seem to have happy surprises whenever I visit. With weather warming, on this tour I met snakes, pigs, and Sedge Wrens (my first). |
Date Taken: 2021:03:12 11:47 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X2368-Aransas_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: When I pass the Oak Sanctuary, I usually see these snags filled with vultures. Today the caracara was my gift here as I exited the reserve. I’m no stranger to Aransas NWR, but I seem to have happy surprises whenever I visit. With weather warming, on this tour I met snakes, pigs, and Sedge Wrens (my first). |
Date Taken: 2021:03:12 11:46 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X2356-Aransas_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Caracaras flew in while I was working on the vultures. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:10 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X7692-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Caracaras flew in while I was working on the vultures. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:10 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X7647-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Caracaras flew in while I was working on the vultures. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:05 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X7521-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Caracaras flew in while I was working on the vultures. Monday I took a quick tour at Aransas NWR. It was windy and raining, and so I kept my camera gear stowed in the RV, but I climbed the Big Tree Tower and saw lots of Black and Turkey Vultures perched in the trees below the tower. With better weather Tuesday, I set out to capture some closeups. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:02 10:05 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X7514-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: A late afternoon flyover by this caracara caught me off guard. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:06 17:38 |
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Location:
Smith Oaks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X0426-HighIsland_SmithOaks |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: When I pass the Oak Sanctuary, I usually see these snags filled with vultures. Today the caracara was my gift here as I exited the reserve. I’m no stranger to Aransas NWR, but I seem to have happy surprises whenever I visit. With weather warming, on this tour I met snakes, pigs, and Sedge Wrens (my first). |
Date Taken: 2021:03:12 11:48 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_D5X2379-Aransas_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
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Description: Crested Caracaras are charismatic subjects. Here in south Texas, they have many fans. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:25 18:37 |
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Location:
Rio Grande River Ride |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_8507191-RioGrandeBoatRide |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Crested Caracaras are charismatic subjects. Here in south Texas, they have many fans. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:25 18:37 |
|
Location:
Rio Grande River Ride |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_8507196-RioGrandeBoatRide |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Crested Caracara(Caracara cheriway) |
|
Description: Crested Caracaras are charismatic subjects. Here in south Texas, they have many fans. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:25 18:38 |
|
Location:
Rio Grande River Ride |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CrestedCaracara_8507197-RioGrandeBoatRide |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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