March 20, 2016 - Texas - Crested Caracara - flight
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At the photo workshop I attended in February, two of the morning sessions were devoted to photographing raptors. The most numerous raptors on the ranch were the Crested Caracaras. The photographers were concealed in blinds and we had many opportunities to get flight shots as the birds came in to feed. Bird feathers are strong but they do take a beating. Look at the wing near the bottom of the picture and you will see many small slits in the feathers of this bird.
Caracaras are large raptors, 20 to 25 inches in length, about the size of an Osprey. The bright blue bill and bare, reddish skin on the face are distinctive. They are found throughout the American tropics. In the United States, they inhabit a large area of southeastern Texas. There are also local populations of Caracaras in south central Florida and near the Mexican border in Arizona.
Caracaras are scavengers, often chasing Turkey Vultures away from a carcass. They also hunt small animals, birds, lizards, snakes, and frogs. They have white on “all four corners” (head, tail, wing tips). This field mark can be helpful in identifying a Caracara soaring high in the air.
The first three photos showed adults; this is a juvenile. Note the overall brown color of this bird vs. the black color of the adults. The second distinguishing field mark is the tan face and throat on the juvenile compared to the white face and throat on the adult.
CaracaraCrestedjuvenileflightLagunaSecaRanchEdinburg20160219
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