I went to Naples, FL. for Thanksgiving to visit friends. It was, of course, a fantastic time although, not doing anything special. However, on the way back to Ft. Lauderdale I drove a small two lane road to get back on I-75 (Alligator Alley). It was a nice country road and, I’m always up for driving back roads and seeing what things are like.

I wasn’t driving that fast but, I had to swerve across the lane to miss an otter running across the road. I wanted to stop and take a pic but, I knew that wouldn’t work. Further up the road I saw a huge bird that wasn’t a vulture (which I had seen several snacking on dead carcasses). I recognized it immediately. It was a Cara Cara. Even though I saw several other huge hawks on the drive back, the Cara Cara stays in my mind because I’ve only seen this one in the wild. I’ll definitely have to go back and explore. There are some acres devoted to the Florida Panther there with hiking trails. I’m excited already.

Identification Tips: Crested caracara Caracara cheriway

  • Length: 21 inches Wingspan: 48 inches
  • Sexes similar
  • Medium-sized, broad-winged, long-tailed hawk
  • Thick, gray hooked beak, with reddish cere and bare facial skin around eye
  • Long neck, especially apparent in flight
  • Long legs
  • Black cap with slight crest at rear of head
  • White bases to outer six primaries form white panel on outer wing like that on Black Vulture
  • White rump, uppertail and undertail coverts
  • White tail with black barring and thick terminal band
  • Black belly

Adult:

  • Black back
  • Breast and upper back marked by fine, dark vermiculations

Immature:

  • Brown back
  • Pale buff neck and throat
  • Pale breast streaked with dark brown

Similar species:

Black Vulture has a similar white wing panel on dark wings, but is otherwise quite different in shape and coloration.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.

http://www.greglasley.net/caracara.html <= best images I’ve seen on this bird