The Story
This Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) was at Reserva Natural La Palmita in Trinidad, Casanare, Colombia when I photographed it. The Crested Caracara lives in almost any open or semi-open habitat and is often found near people. It avoids the Andean highlands and dense humid forest such as the Amazon, where it keeps mostly to open areas along major rivers. La Palmita’s research center has recorded 250 bird species and 39 bat species in the flooded savannas of Trinidad. IUCN lists the Crested Caracara as Least Concern, with a stable population.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100. La Palmita’s research center also monitors the savanna’s birds and mammals and rehabilitates and releases wildlife rescued from illegal trafficking.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) belongs to the family Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2023), with the population trend listed as stable. Source: IUCN Red List