The crested caracara (Caracara cheriway) is a large raptor found in south-central North America, Central America, and most of South America. It is the only member of the genus Caracara found in North America. The crested caracara’s classification and federal status has been the subject of some debate and confusion over the years.
Quick Answer
The crested caracara is currently classified as a threatened species in the United States under the Endangered Species Act. It is federally protected in the U.S. However, it has a much wider distribution across the Americas and is classified as Least Concern globally by the IUCN.
Taxonomy and Classification History
The crested caracara has had a convoluted taxonomic history, which has contributed to the confusion surrounding its federal status in the U.S.
It was originally classified in the genus Polyborus as Polyborus cheriway when first described by French naturalist Jacques Pucheran in 1845. In 1851, German ornithologist Jean Cabanis moved it to the newly created genus Caracara.
For much of the early 20th century, the crested caracara was considered to be a subspecies of the southern caracara (Caracara plancus). Both were classified as Caracara plancus cheriway.
In the late 20th century, taxonomic studies provided evidence that the crested caracara was a distinct species from the southern caracara. In 1976, the American Ornithologists’ Union officially recognized the crested caracara as its own unique species, Caracara cheriway.
Most taxonomists and conservation organizations, including the IUCN and BirdLife International, currently recognize the crested caracara as a full species (Caracara cheriway) distinct from the southern caracara (Caracara plancus). However, there is still some debate, with occasional claims that the two may represent subspecies or that the crested caracara may consist of multiple cryptic species.
Timeline of Taxonomic Classification
| 1845 | Polyborus cheriway (Pucheran) |
| 1851 | Caracara cheriway (Cabanis) |
| Early 1900s | Caracara plancus cheriway |
| 1976 | Caracara cheriway recognized as distinct species |
| Present | Caracara cheriway (Crested Caracara) |
Federal Status and Protection
The crested caracara’s federal status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act has varied over the decades:
- 1967 – Listed as threatened due to habitat loss and declining populations
- 1987 – Reclassified from threatened to endangered status
- 2009 – Downlisted back to threatened status
It is currently classified as a threatened species under the ESA throughout its U.S. range, which includes Florida, Texas, Arizona, and parts of the Southwest. As a federally threatened species, the crested caracara receives legal protections from harm, harassment, or habitat destruction under the Endangered Species Act.
The downlisting from endangered back to threatened in 2009 was controversial. It was based on evidence that populations had rebounded substantially in Florida and were more stable than previously believed. However, conservation groups argued more protections were still needed, especially on the fringes of its U.S. range.
Table of Federal Status History
| Year | Federal Status |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Threatened |
| 1987 | Endangered |
| 2009 | Threatened |
IUCN Red List Status
The crested caracara has a very wide distribution across much of Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is also found on some Caribbean islands. Across its entire range, the crested caracara is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Its global population appears stable and is estimated at anywhere from 1 million to 10 million individuals. Due to its large range and stable population, it does not approach the IUCN criteria for a threatened or endangered listing.
The crested caracara’s status on the IUCN Red List contrasts with its federal status in the U.S., where it is much rarer and threatened on the northern fringe of its range. This demonstrates why a species’ conservation status may vary greatly depending on the geographic scale.
Range and Population
The crested caracara has an extensive range across Central America, most of South America, and parts of the southern United States. However, its population density is highly variable across this large range.
In the United States, it is restricted to southern Florida, south Texas, and small portions of the Southwest. It is rare and localized across this northern fringe of its range. Estimates put the U.S. population at less than 5,000 breeding pairs.
In parts of its core range like central Brazil and Paraguay, the crested caracara can be common. But in other areas, habitat loss and deforestation have caused declines. It has disappeared from parts of its former range in northeastern Brazil.
Across its entire range, the total crested caracara population is estimated at anywhere from 1 million to 10 million individuals. The wide uncertainty reflects the need for more comprehensive surveys across its expansive range in South and Central America.
Table of Population Estimates
| Region | Population Estimate |
|---|---|
| United States | Less than 5,000 pairs |
| Mexico | 10,000 – 100,000 pairs |
| Central America | 10,000 – 100,000 pairs |
| South America | 500,000 – 9,500,000 pairs |
| Global Total | 1 million – 10 million individuals |
Habitat
The crested caracara can inhabit a fairly diverse range of habitats across its extensive geographic range. However, it tends to prefer open or semi-open habitats over dense forest.
In Florida, it occurs in dry prairie and ranchland habitats with scattered cabbage palms, oak hammocks, and pine. In Texas, it may be found in areas of oak-juniper woodlands and mesquite grasslands.
Across much of its range in Mexico, Central and South America, the crested caracara resides in savanna, grasslands, scrub forest, pastureland, and agricultural areas. It often perches on fence posts or utility poles in open areas.
Declines in parts of its range can be attributed to loss of suitable habitat. Conversion of natural grasslands and savannas to agriculture and urbanization has negatively impacted crested caracara populations in some areas.
Key Habitats
- Prairies
- Savannas
- Grasslands
- Pastures
- Scrub
- Open woodlands
- Agricultural areas
Threats and Conservation
While still common across much of its range, the crested caracara faces threats in some areas from habitat loss, human persecution, and environmental toxins.
Habitat Loss: Conversion of natural habitats like prairies and savannas to agriculture and development has caused declines for caracaras in parts of its range such as coastal Brazil.
Persecution: Caracaras are sometimes killed by ranchers and farmers who view them as a threat to livestock. Shooting and poisoning have impacted some populations.
Environmental Contaminants: Caracaras are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of pesticides, lead, and other toxins consumed through carrion and prey. Lead bullets in hunted game may be a particular issue.
Conservation efforts for the crested caracara focus on habitat protection, outreach to reduce persecution, and management of environmental contaminants. Major habitats in the U.S. and across its range in Latin America need protection to maintain stable populations long-term.
Conservation Actions
- Protection of prairies, savannas and other key habitats
- Outreach programs to reduce persecution
- Restrictions on toxic chemicals and lead ammunition
- Monitoring and remediation of environmental toxins
Interesting Facts
Beyond its convoluted taxonomic history and complex federal status issues, there are many other interesting facts about the charismatic crested caracara:
- The crested caracara is a adaptable generalist, feeding on carrion, insects, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and more. It even feeds on dead fish along shorelines.
- While it prefers open habitats, it may also be found in relatively dense forest areas in parts of its range like the Amazon basin.
- The crested caracara competes with turkey vultures, black vultures, and American alligators for carrion resources in Florida.
- It builds large stick nests in trees, often taking over abandoned nests built by other birds like bald eagles.
- Its Spanish name is “caracara crestado”. In Brazil it is called “carcará” and in Mexico “quebrantahuesos”, which means “bone-breaker”.
- It has distinctive facial features for a raptor, including a featherless face, cerebral blue skin, and a large black bill.
- The crested caracara was declared the national bird of Mexico in 1822.
Conclusion
In summary, the crested caracara has a complex conservation history in the United States, where it is federally protected as threatened on the northern fringe of its range. Across its more extensive distribution in Latin America, populations appear generally stable, warranting a status of Least Concern globally.
Ongoing habitat protection, reduction of persecution, and conservation of key populations will help ensure the long-term survival of this unique raptor across its range. The regal crested caracara remains an iconic and integral part of prairie and savanna ecosystems across much of the Americas.
