Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, Florida.

The Crested Caracaras’ preferred habitat is open, lowland countryside, like pastures, savannas, river edges, and ranches. They may also be found in some forests and marshes. These birds reside in the Central America and South America and reaches the United States only in Arizona, Texas, and Florida.

The Crested Caracara usually feeds on carrion, but they will take advantage of any food opportunity by eating small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, turtles, fish, crab, eggs, insects, worms, and nestling birds. Caracaras hunt live food on the ground or take food from other birds. It is not unusual for this bird to run, rather than fly, after it’s prey.

Although it looks like a long-legged hawk and associates with vultures, the Crested Caracara is actually in the same family as falcons.