Crested caracara
Caracara plancus
Identification Tips:
- Sexes similar
- Medium-sized, broad-winged, long-tailed hawk
- Thick, gray hooked beak, with reddish cere and bare facial skin around eye
- Long neck, especially apparent in flight
- Long legs
- Black cap with slight crest at rear of head
- White bases to outer six primaries form white panel on outer wing like
that on Black Vulture
- White rump, uppertail and undertail coverts
- White tail with black barring and thick terminal band
- Black belly
Adult:
- Black back
- Breast and upper back marked by fine, dark vermiculations
Immature:
- Brown back
- Pale buff neck and throat
- Pale breast streaked with dark brown
Similar species:
Black Vulture has a similar white wing panel on dark wings, but is otherwise
quite different in shape and coloration.