Caracara Diet

The caracara is a member of the falcon family. This bird of prey can be found throughout the world, with many residing in South and Central America and some southern regions of the United States. Like other falcons, it is a carnivore and has a diet consisting mainly of meat. However, unlike its falcon relatives, it also eats carrion--dead animals--as do vultures and other scavengers.

  1. Description

    • The caracara, also known as the Mexican eagle or Mexican buzzard, is a large bird with 20- to 25-inch-long legs and a wing span of up to 50 inches. It can be identified by its black crest and white face, throat and chest. It has a reddish bill and a dark band at the tip of its tail. Although it has a large wingspan and can fly great distances, the caracara prefers to spend its time on the ground running and scavenging for carrion.

    Diet

    • Caracaras are carnivores, like most falcons. They eat small mammals, reptiles and insects such as grasshoppers and beetles, as well as carrion. You can see them walking around fields, shallow wetlands or even along roads. Additionally, they can also eat eggs, fruits and seeds. If you want to feed wild caracaras, you can leave out dead animals on a field or spread around fruits.

    A Threatened Species

    • The caracara is a threatened species, meaning that their habitat is declining due to the growth of cities; they are also victims of highway mortality and illegal trapping. Additionally, they only lay three eggs at a time. The incubation period last 30 days.