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Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Bird · family Falconidae · order Falconiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Crested Caracara
Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
5 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
25 years[4]

The Crested Caracara is a bird in the falcon family[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Crested Caracara a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank in the United States of N4 (Apparently Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
CITES (international trade)[9] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Crested Caracara lives

NatureServe lists the Crested Caracara as native in five US states: Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas[3]. GBIF has the most observation records in Texas, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana and California[11]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many birds live there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S2AZNew Mexico: native, state rank SNANMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S1LAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (5 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS2Imperiled
FloridaS2Imperiled
LouisianaS1Critically Imperiled
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records shrubland, savanna, grassland, desert, cropland and riparian (streamside) habitat for this bird[13]. In plain terms, it lives in open country such as pastures, farmland and semidesert, and it is found more often in dry areas than wet ones[14]. It is often seen on the ground near vultures[14]. In Florida it uses open prairie with scattered palms, wetter prairie and some improved pasture[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Crested Caracara eats carrion (dead animals), and NatureServe records it as a carnivore and an invertivore, meaning it also eats invertebrates[15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 60% carrion, 20% reptiles and amphibians, and 20% invertebrates[16]. It also takes live animals and often uses road kills[17]. A typical adult is 58 cm (23 in) long[18] and weighs about 953 g[19]. A nest usually holds 2 to 3 eggs, and incubation lasts about 30 to 32 days[20]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 25 years old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[18] 58 cm (23 in)
Typical adult weight[19] 953 g (33.6 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[21] 37.6 years (captivity)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 25 years 0 months
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 60% carrion
  • 20% reptiles and amphibians
  • 20% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Crested Caracara is active by day[23]. NatureServe calls it a non-migrant, though populations can differ[22]. Egg dates in Florida run from late December to early April[20]. In Texas they run from late January to early June, with a peak in March and April[20]. GBIF records in the United States are highest in January, March and April[24]. These records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[24].

January: 56,403 recordsJanFebruary: 49,320 recordsFebMarch: 50,100 recordsMarApril: 60,212 recordsAprMay: 29,566 recordsMayJune: 15,207 recordsJunJuly: 13,282 recordsJulAugust: 14,982 recordsAugSeptember: 17,439 recordsSepOctober: 24,687 recordsOctNovember: 43,371 recordsNovDecember: 48,383 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January56,403
February49,320
March50,100
April60,212
May29,566
June15,207
July13,282
August14,982
September17,439
October24,687
November43,371
December48,383

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Crested Caracara as present in 2 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, California[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Crested Caracara endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Crested Caracara live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas[3]. It lives in open country such as pasture, grassland and semidesert[14].
What does the Crested Caracara eat?
It mostly eats carrion, and EltonTraits estimates 60% of its diet is carrion[16]. It also eats reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates[16].
How big is a Crested Caracara?
A typical adult is 58 cm (23 in) long[18] and weighs about 953 g[19].
How long does a Crested Caracara live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 25 years old[4]. AnAge also lists a longest recorded captive lifespan[21].

Facts and sources

  1. Crested Caracara is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Crested Caracara: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Crested Caracara as native in 5 US states and territories: Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Crested Caracara from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 25 years 0 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) is a bird in the family Falconidae, order Falconiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Crested Caracara is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Crested Caracara: Texas, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, California. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Crested Caracara (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Crested Caracara: Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Desert, Cropland/hedgerow, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Crested Caracara. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 60% carrion, 20% reptiles and amphibians, 20% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. NatureServe notes on food for Crested Caracara. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 58 cm (23 in). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 953 g (33.6 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Crested Caracara. NatureServe Explorer
  21. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 37.6 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  22. NatureServe migration category for Crested Caracara: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Crested Caracara in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Crested Caracara as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.