Our Crafty Yellow-Headed Caracara

Table of Contents

A COMMON BUT LITTLE-KNOWN BIRD

The Yellow-Headed Caracara is a familiar sight across Costa Ballena, from ocean shores to the high coastal mountains. Though its plumage is modest—cream-colored head and underparts, dark wings, and a faint eye stripe—its presence is hard to miss. These birds often perch in open view and vocalize with a sharp, falcon-like screech that echoes across the landscape.

Despite their visibility, few people know their name or story. The caracara’s habit of scavenging, hunting insects, and even riding cattle to pick off ticks reveals a clever and adaptable nature. They thrive in human-altered environments and are frequently seen along roadsides, fence posts, and rooftops.

A favourite hang-out of our crafty Yellow-Headed Caracara - conspicuous high branches, from which it screeches the familiar call. c/o Enricoyempest, wikicommons. — A favourite hang-out of the caracara – conspicuous high branches, from which it screeches the familiar call. c/o Enricoyempest, wikicommons.

The Yellow-Headed Caracara belongs to the Falconidae family, making it a true falcon—but it breaks the mold in striking ways. Unlike most raptors, it’s omnivorous, feeding on both animal and plant matter. Scavenging is a major part of its diet, and it’s one of the few birds of prey known to eat fruit regularly. This dietary flexibility allows it to thrive in human-altered landscapes, from pastures to roadside clearings.

Though often seen picking ticks off cattle or foraging for carrion, the caracara is also capable of hunting on the wing. Its opportunistic nature has led to occasional suspicion in livestock deaths, especially involving vulnerable or young animals.

The namesake yellow head of a yellow-Headed Caracara is clearly visible in this photo. c/o A Caracara feeding on the back of a Capybara. c/o Andreas Trepte wikicommons. — The namesake yellow head of a Yellow-Headed Caracara is clearly visible in this photo. c/o Andreas Trepte wikicommons.

Interestingly the Yellow-Headed Caracara fills the niche which is filled by crows and ravens in more northern and colder climates such as United States and Canada (one Caracara specie can be found in extreme southern US, but no further north).

IT WILL EAT EVERYTHING

Being both scavenger and hunter, and feeding on plant and animal matter, the Yellow-Headed Caracara is highly adaptable. Its wide range and stable population reflect this. It’s known to perch on large mammals—like capybaras, sloths, tapirs, and cows—to eat ticks and parasites.

A Caracara feeding on top of a bull. c/o Samuelistok wikicommons.

The Yellow-Headed Caracara has a broad and opportunistic diet. It eats carrion, garbage, crabs, fish, reptiles, amphibians, hatchlings, eggs, horse dung, seeds, corn, and fruit—including oil palm and coconut. Though it prefers feeding on the ground, it can hunt from above, true to its falcon lineage. With such a varied and abundant menu, it’s no surprise the bird has plenty of time to perch in trees and screech away.

A Caracara feeding on the back of a Capybara. c/o Charles J. Sharp wikicommons.

Yellow-Headed Caracaras often gather around grass fires, taking advantage of fleeing animals to secure an easy meal. Their feeding habits are highly versatile—scavenging, hunting, and even foraging plant matter. In terms of survival, versatility beats specialization. Species that rely on narrow food sources face greater extinction risk when those sources decline or vanish. The caracara’s broad diet is a key to its resilience.

Our crafty Yellow-headed Caracara foraging for seafood. c/o lwolfartist, wikicommons. — A Caracara foraging for seafood. c/o lwolfartist, wikicommons.

A very falcon-like pose of the Caracara - while the birds mostly forage for food on the ground, they are known to take animals on the wing. c/o Rob Stoeltje, wikicommons. — A very falcon-like pose of the Caracara – while the birds mostly forage for food on the ground, they are known to take animals on the wing. c/o Rob Stoeltje, wikicommons.

RUMORS OF LIVESTOCK ATTACKS

Reports from ranchers and farmers suggest that Yellow-Headed Caracaras may occasionally prey on young domestic animals. Calves, lambs, and other vulnerable mammals are said to be targeted, especially when injured or newly born. Accounts describe caracaras biting into open wounds and feeding on live tissue, sometimes leading to death by bleeding or infection. There are also claims of birds pecking at the eyes and soft areas of newborn stock animals, causing fatal injuries.

While these testimonies appear across ranching forums and anecdotal sources, no direct video evidence currently confirms this behavior. Interestingly, similar accusations have been made against ravens, which are also known to scavenge and opportunistically attack weak or newborn animals. The topic remains contentious, with researchers calling for more systematic observation before drawing firm conclusions

Newborn stock, including calves and lambs, are a purported target of Caracara attacks - the birds peck at soft body parts like eyes and undersides of feet. c/o Wanderschäfer Sven de Vries wikicommons. — Newborn stock, including calves and lambs, are a purported target of Caracara attacks – the birds peck at soft body parts like eyes and undersides of feet. c/o Wanderschäfer Sven de Vries wikicommons.

THEY ARE SUPER EAST TO SPOT

Yellow-Headed Caracaras have very particular wing markings – white stripes that resemble decals of WW2 fighter planes. Looking at the photo below, you will realize you have seen these birds dozens and dozens of times – they are unmistakable:

The noticeable white markings on the underside of Caracaras' wings - resembling WW2 fighter aircraft decals - make the birds very easy to identify. c/o Mike Peel wikicommons. — The noticeable white markings on the underside of Caracaras’ wings – resembling WW2 fighter aircraft decals – make the birds very easy to identify. c/o Mike Peel wikicommons.

Their loud shrieking calls of keeeeeah or keeeeeee pierce the morning stillness. Sitting on high branches or rooftops, the vocalizations can go on for a long time. If disturbed, the bird will fly off to a nearby perch and resume the calls.

A Yellow-Headed Cacacara making itself seen while calling with the typical shrill 'keeeeeeah'. c/o Guillermo Vasquez , wikicommons. — A Yellow-Headed Caracara making itself seen while calling with the typical shrill ‘keeeeeeah’. c/o Guillermo Vasquez , wikicommons.

THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB

As scavengers, Yellow-Headed Caracaras play a key role in the nutrient cycle by removing dead animals and enriching the soil with their droppings. Their diet of insects and fruit aids in pest control and seed dispersal, while their habit of perching on large mammals helps rid these animals of ticks and parasites. Despite these benefits, the caracara is often disliked by farmers who—perhaps fairly, perhaps not—blame it for livestock injuries and deaths.

Our crafty Yellow-Headed Caracara on Ben's property. Moments earlier, the bird was curiously investigating his car's windshield. — A Yellow-Headed Caracara on Ben’s property. Moments earlier, the bird was curiously investigating his car’s windshield.

CO-OPERATIVE BEHAVIOUR

Yellow-Headed Caracaras are widely recognized for their intelligence and adaptability. They engage in group hunting and scavenging, often cooperating with vultures to locate carrion. Their social nature extends to chick-rearing, with pairs or small groups sharing nesting duties. These birds also display playful behavior—performing aerial acrobatics and investigating unfamiliar objects with curiosity. Much like crows and ravens, they exhibit traits linked to high cognitive ability, making them smart, versatile, and inquisitive members of the raptor world.

RANGE, HABITAT AND CONSERVATION

The Yellow-Headed Caracara ranges from southwestern Nicaragua through western Costa Rica, Panama, and across mainland South America. It favors lightly-treed habitats like savannahs, orchards, plantations, ranches, and even towns. Typically found from sea level up to 1,000 meters, the species is not considered threatened. With a population exceeding 5 million and rising, its numbers appear to be expanding as deforestation creates more of the open landscapes it prefers.

A Caracara enjoying a high perch. c/o Charles J. Sharp wikicommons.

It is interesting to note that the bird is a recent arrival to Costa Rica – its range has been slowly expanding northward and it is just making its way into northern Costa Rica and Southern Nicaragua.

THIS BIRD HAS A FAMOUS FAMILY!

The Yellow-Headed Caracara often lives in the shadow of its larger cousin, the Crested Caracara. Though both share similar habits and general appearance, the Crested Caracara stands out with its striking black-and-white plumage, bold facial markings, and regal bearing. This distinguished look has earned it far more attention and admiration, while the more modest Yellow-Headed Caracara remains overlooked despite its intelligence and adaptability.

The Crested Caracara, also known as Mexican Eagle. c/o Charles J. Sharp, wikicommons.

A strutting Crested Caracara. c/o Share Alike 4.0 wikicommons.

GIVE CREDIT TO THE CARACARA

Regarded as a ‘common’ bird, maybe even a bit boring, the Yellow-Headed Caracara is a master of survival with a few tricks up its sleeve – next time you hear its high-pitched call, see it perched on a high branch, or notice the fighter-plane marking while the bird is on wing, remember that you are looking at a true master of its environment.

A pair of Caracaras making themselves seen. c/o Dcunha199, wikicommons. — A pair of Caracaras on full display. c/o Dcunha199, wikicommons.

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Cover photo c/o Félix Uribe , wikicommons.