Caracara
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Subfamily: Polyborinae
Genera: Daptrius Ibycter Phalcoboenus Polyborus Milvago

[Photo] Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus), Roma, Texas. Date: December 2005. Author www.naturespicsonline.com

Caracaras are birds of prey in the family Falconidae. They are principally birds of South and Central America, just reaching the southern USA.

Unlike the Falco falcons in the same family, the birds in the four relevant genera are not fast-flying aerial hunters, but are rather sluggish and often scavengers.

The species are:

Black Caracara, Daptrius ater
Red-throated Caracara, Ibycter americanus - formerly in Daptrius
Carunculated Caracara, Phalcoboenus carunculatus
Mountain Caracara, Phalcoboenus megalopterus
White-throated Caracara, Phalcoboenus albogularis
Striated Caracara, Phalcoboenus australis
Crested Caracara, Polyborus plancus
Guadalupe Caracara, Polyborus lutosus (extinct)
Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima
Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracara

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