Crested Caracara

Crested Caracara at Viera Wetlands

Unless you live in or visit Central Florida, South Texas or farther south, you probably won't have any opportunity to see the Crested Caracara [gallery].  Despite appearances, this bird is closely related to falcons, though they are not the fast-flying variety of falcons that we're most familiar with.  Apparently, these birds used to live throughout the southern United States, but their habitat was wiped out by the most recent ice age, leaving a little pocket in Central Florida for them to live and for me to enjoy their presence.

Crested Caracara at Orlando Wetlands Park

They can be seen frequently at Viera Wetlands, and I've seen them at Orlando Wetlands Park as well, and you can see them elsewhere in Central Florida as well.  Being somewhat of a scavenger, they are a whole lot more fun to photograph than vultures, at least for me.  Anyway, they are beautiful birds, so I thought I'd share a few photographs of them with you.

Crested Caracara at Viera Wetlands

Crested Caracara at Orlando Wetlands Park