Crested Caracara Feasting on Wild Pig Carcass in Florida

Video: Crested Caracara Feasting on Wild Pig Carcass in Florida

Crested Caracara Feasting on Wild Pig Carcass in Florida

The magnificent Crested Caracara are rarely seen members of the falcon family in Florida. There is a stable population in central Florida, however, they typically live in very remote open rangeland/ranch areas. They have adapted to live primarily off (unfortunately abundant) roadkill of wildlife - in this case a rather large wild pig. They themselves (and other raptors) are occasionally killed by cars as they eat carrion. If this had been winter time they would have had to fight hard with abundant vultures that move into the same area.

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Pair of Crested Caracara in Florida

A Mating Pair of Crested Caracara in central Florida

Had the good fortune to capture a pair of the rare Crested Caracara on video on a remote route I like to take in interior central Florida. These are of the falcon family and have a most unusual look to them. They have adapted to live almost entirely on roadkill along remote ranch land roads in interior Florida south of Orlando. Eagles have also made good use of roadkill in these areas and often the Caracara fight off the vultures for "first helpings" of fresh roadkill. These are large and impressive looking falcons...especially in flight. I was fortunate to be fairly close to these two without them becoming aware. They rarely will let you approach very close in a vehicle. More on Caracara stalking strategies in a future blog.

More information is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

Florida Bald Eagles - Winter Birding Picking Up

Video of Crow and Bald Eagle in Florida

While we wait for Eastern Screech Owl nesting season to heat up in late winter...daytime birding overall has been picking up in Florida. Here is a video of a chance encounter with Eagles and Crested Caracaras - always exciting to see and the common crow who tries to steal the show.