Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
- FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
- GenusCaracara (Crested Caracaras)
- SpeciesCaracara plancus (Crested Caracara)
The crested caracara (Caracara plancus) is a bird of prey (raptor) in the falcon family, Falconidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Polyborus before being given in its own genus, Caracara. It is native to and found in the southern and southeastern United States, Mexico (where it is present in every state) and the majority of mainland Latin America, as well as some Caribbean islands. The crested caracara is quite adaptable and hardy, for a species found predominantly in the neotropics; it can be found in a range of environments and ecosystems, including semi-arid and desert climates, maritime or coastal areas, subtropical and tropical forests, temperate regions, plains, swamps, and even in urban areas. Documented, albeit rare, sightings have occurred as far north as Minnesota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. The southern extent of the crested caracara's distribution can reach as far as Tierra del Fuego and Magallanes Region, Chile. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Caracara sighting in Anavilhanas National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Anavilhanas National Park
Bat Falcon
Falco rufigularis
Black Caracara
Daptrius ater
Red-throated Caracara
Ibycter americanus
Lined Forest Falcon
Micrastur gilvicollis
Laughing Falcon
Herpetotheres cachinnans
Slaty-backed Forest Falcon
Micrastur mirandollei
Barred Forest Falcon
Micrastur ruficollis
Collared Forest Falcon
Micrastur semitorquatus
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Crested Caracara in Anavilhanas National Park?
About 7% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Caracara sighting in Anavilhanas National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Crested Caracara in Anavilhanas National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Crested Caracara in Anavilhanas National Park in our monthly data.