| Range: |
Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, Cuba |
| Habitat: |
Various habitats, including shrublands, grasslands, pastures, river edges |
| Conservation Status: |
Not listed by IUCN |
| Scientific Name: |
Polyborus plancus auduboni |
This handsome bird of prey is a member of the falcon family. It has a strange style of hunting: it prefers to walk, not fly. That way, if it happens upon a dead animal, it can make a meal of it. In fact, the caracara is unusual among falcons in that it prefers to eat more carrion (dead animals) than live prey.
Like buzzards and vultures, caracaras don’t have feathers on their face and legs. This is a special adaptation that helps keep the birds clean. This way the sun’s rays can dry and disinfect any “leftovers” that get stuck on their face or legs.
Caracaras nest in low-growing shrubs. Both parents sit on the eggs, which hatch after four to five weeks.
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