Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus (prev. Polyborus plancus)

The Crested Caracara, also called Common Caracara and Mexican Eagle, ranges from southern USA through Central and South America; it used to be considered one species (Polyborus plancus) but has now been split into two species, the Southern (Caracara plancus) shown here and the Northern (Caracara cheriway). Known also as just the Northern and Southern Caracara respectively, the former ranges from southern USA through to northern South America and the latter through southern South America.

The Southern race shown is more strongly barred on the neck/chest than the Northern.

Male and female have similar plumage but the juvenile (above right) is pale brown with buff face and brown cap and vertical streaking.