Crested Caracara: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hawks and Falcons · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Caracaras grab small animals driven out by wildfires or farm machines. Some have even learned to follow trains or cars for scraps.
2. The bare skin on its face is yellow to reddish-orange, and its colour can change with the bird's mood.
3. Its name comes from the old Tupi language of Brazil, karakará. It is thought to copy the sound of the bird's own call.
4. It is sometimes called the Mexican eagle. One scientist suggested that the bird in the Aztec legend of a bird perched on a cactus was a caracara.
5. Black vultures have been seen grooming caracaras' feathers. Each time, the caracara bowed its head first, as if asking to be groomed.

The quiz

1. What has the crested caracara learned to follow in some places?

• Fishing boats only
• Trains and cars (correct)
• Herds of elephants
• Hot-air balloons

Locally it follows trains or cars for food that people throw out.

2. What can change the colour of a caracara's bare face?

• The time of day
• The food it eats
• Its mood (correct)
• The weather

Its facial colour can change depending on its mood.

3. Where does the word caracara probably come from?

• A Spanish word for crown
• A Latin word for hunter
• A Greek word for falcon
• An old Tupi word copying its call (correct)

It comes from Old Tupi karakará, thought to imitate the bird's call.

4. What other name is the crested caracara sometimes known by?

• The Mexican eagle (correct)
• The desert owl
• The Andean condor
• The king vulture

It is also called the Mexican eagle, though it is not a true eagle.

5. What does a caracara do before a black vulture grooms it?

• It spreads its wings
• It bows its head down (correct)
• It calls loudly
• It flies in circles

In every case, the caracara bowed its head as an apparent invitation.

More about the Crested Caracara

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries