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Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Caracaras

Caracaras

Falconidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities



North American Bird Search Box

The Crested Caracara is the only native caracara seen in North America. This large bird of prey, is a member of the falcon family. It can be seen across the southern US states, south through Central America, right to the southern tip of the South American Continent. Recently, the Crested Caracara has been split into two species. They are now known as the Crested Caracara (Northern) and the Crested Caracara (Southern).

caracaras

The Yellow-headed Caracara, which was first reported and photograhed in 2022 along the eastern Florida coast, between Hollywood and Miami, and again in late 2023, is a vagrant from the southern regions of Central America and the northern two thirds of South America. As through all of 2024, into late July, it has established itself along the eastern Florida shores north of Miami.

Click on the bird names listed below to see pictures of the Caracaras

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB