Mark B Bartosik
Well-known member
On December 26 and 27 I had opportunity to observe several diurnal raptors feeding on Coyote’s carcass near road located at Hidalgo County, Lower Rio Grande Valley. More details about that event are in my former post. As most of the time at least one and often a few Crested Caracaras were present near the carcass I had a chance to observe many of their behaviors. I already described some details of the way they ate Coyote’s carcass (see the other post). Here I would like to share more detailed descriptions about their interactions between specimens of their own kind and as well a few words about interactions with other raptors on the scene.
First I would like to describe my observations on Crested Caracaras calling behavior given in conjunction with Head-Throwback Display as this was a part of many interesting intraspecific and interspecific interactions with other birds around. When starting the call Caracara was erecting its head http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332029 and then, often in slow motion, was throwing its head back until crown was touching upper back http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332033. It can hold head thrown back for some time when keep calling. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332038
Loud, continues crackling/rattling call is made during the display.
On many internet sites, for some reasons, this behavior is sometimes described as mysterious, and some suggest that this is just a part of the courtship.
Even in more serious papers opinions are written very carefully. As an example here is a paragraph from one of papers with references published on the web (http://southeast.fws.gov/vbpdfs/species/birds/acca.pdf):
Little information is available on vocalizations of this species; however, in the morning or evening, the caracara may throw its head back until it almost touches its shoulders and emit a high, cackling cry that resembles its Brazilian name (Bent 1961). Observations of caracaras in Costa Rica and Mexico indicate that this call may be a part of pair formation or courtship. The only other vocalizations heard in Costa Rica were a one-syllable greeting and an alarm call (Palmer 1988)
The best available work summarizing all known data about Crested Caracara behaviors is: Morrison, J. L. 1996. Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus). In The Birds of North America, No. 249 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C. It is available on line to subscribers.
Indeed I observed both partners making this display (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332043) right after the copulation (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332042) which took place after long feeding together when pair walked away from carcass about 100 feet. I did not observe any pre-copulation behavior as I was busy with juvenile taking over feeding on carcass at the same time. (Please note that Crested Caracaras copulate year-round.)
But Head-Throwback Display was used much more often in different situations, through all parts of the day (not only morning or evening), by birds of all ages and status: adults, both pairs and single adults, and juveniles as well. I also often saw it (at different times and locations) as a last try to scare away intruders from not getting closer to place when adult(s) where perching with young juveniles as en example. From the recent, long observation it was clear to me that this display has two common uses: Showing/announcing take over of the territory and/or food source (Coyote’s carcass in described case) http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904833 and also was performed when Crested Caracara was trying to gain access to food already taken by bird from another species. It was perform several times near feeding juvenile White-tailed Hawk (by both adult and juvenile Caracaras), sometimes very close http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904831, but no Caracara got close and display near feeding Red-tailed Hawk or dominant Caracara when one was feeding. Display was also present next to Turkey Vulture waiting for its turn. Also, on one occasion young Caracara shown aggressive pose and made a short jump with raised wings and open bill toward Turkey Vulture but lack of any reaction from vulture ended up this incident. It is also interesting to mention that on several occasions when juvenile Caracara was starting Head-Throwback Display , even far away from carcass, and adult bird was in visible distance (again, even far away) adult’s reaction was an immediate attack and chase away displaying young bird. On several occasions those attacks ended up with short confrontation in mid-air where juvenile was rolling over with, talons up for protection. (No I do not have a photo, was too far and did not get focus on birds fast enough.) Here is just aerial tail-chase: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904836 No chase ended up in serious fight. Juvenile was sometimes resting on the ground http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904834 taking this flattened, submissive posture http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904835 when other aggressive Caracara was coming closer. It often did not stop aggressor from chase. One of the reason I was watching for prostrate Caracaras on the ground is fact that we do not know if Caracaras are anting or not. Also when I was observing Caracaras feeding on insects (?) when they were walking and scratching dirt on the field around the carcass sometimes they were raising their feet and look at it very carefully. In no case I could see a reason. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904842
To summarize what I was able to observe; Head-Throwback Display occurred very often during a day, no matter what part of the day, and was performed by adults and juveniles to claim a territory or food; and/or when making aggressive posture near another feeding or waiting bird of different species (White-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture in this case). Both Caracara partners made that display after copulation.
A few more notes on feeding:
Except one breeding pair rest of single Crested Caracaras (including juvenile birds) were always feeding alone (Coyote is small so there was not much room to access the carcass anyway). Most dominant bird on scene was eating the carcass and the other raptors were waiting (often impatiently) around. Most impatient bird on scene was a juvenile Caracara who even sometimes was trying to grab a piece of carcass when White-tailed Hawk was feeding. It was circling around trying to gain access to carcass with hawk spreading its wings to protect it http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904819, and keep turning its back to Caracara http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904820. One time it led to almost comical situation. After trying to see and access the carcass for a few minutes http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904822 juvenile Caracara analyzed situation for the last time and decided to grab primary feather of juvenile White-tailed Hawk wing http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904825 then started to pull it http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904827 trying to pull away WTH from the carcass. It did not success and Murphy’s Law worked as well. After taking three frames my battery was dead and only two frames 1st and 3rd were good. Second, perhaps most interesting had focus on the ground http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904826.
After freeing its wing WTH went back to feeding and was paying no attention to Caracara.
Another interesting moment occurred when after long waiting for a pair of Caracaras to stop feeding, juvenile bird decided to take action no matter what. It ruffled its feathers and in begging crouched position, head down with begging call started to run straight to carcass. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332443 For a moment I was afraid that it might be a huge mistake but to my surprise both adults slowly walked away from carcass. Juvenile, when still had its feathers ruffled out, started feeding very rapidly. My another, even bigger surprise, juvenile after a few moments of feeding, with adults did not get away too far, performed full Head-Throwback Display on the top of carcass calling loudly. At that moment, at least for some time, it was its food. .http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331455.
Few examples of self-maintenance.
Wings, tail and legs stretching:
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904837
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904840
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332441
Full body stretch: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904838
Head-scratching: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332437
Bill stretching:
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332440
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332439
Many more supplemental photos can be found in those two folders
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/lrgv_dec_26_27_2006_caracara
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/lrgv_dec_26_27_2006_coyote_carcass
Best regards,
Mark
First I would like to describe my observations on Crested Caracaras calling behavior given in conjunction with Head-Throwback Display as this was a part of many interesting intraspecific and interspecific interactions with other birds around. When starting the call Caracara was erecting its head http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332029 and then, often in slow motion, was throwing its head back until crown was touching upper back http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332033. It can hold head thrown back for some time when keep calling. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332038
Loud, continues crackling/rattling call is made during the display.
On many internet sites, for some reasons, this behavior is sometimes described as mysterious, and some suggest that this is just a part of the courtship.
Even in more serious papers opinions are written very carefully. As an example here is a paragraph from one of papers with references published on the web (http://southeast.fws.gov/vbpdfs/species/birds/acca.pdf):
Little information is available on vocalizations of this species; however, in the morning or evening, the caracara may throw its head back until it almost touches its shoulders and emit a high, cackling cry that resembles its Brazilian name (Bent 1961). Observations of caracaras in Costa Rica and Mexico indicate that this call may be a part of pair formation or courtship. The only other vocalizations heard in Costa Rica were a one-syllable greeting and an alarm call (Palmer 1988)
The best available work summarizing all known data about Crested Caracara behaviors is: Morrison, J. L. 1996. Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus). In The Birds of North America, No. 249 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C. It is available on line to subscribers.
Indeed I observed both partners making this display (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332043) right after the copulation (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332042) which took place after long feeding together when pair walked away from carcass about 100 feet. I did not observe any pre-copulation behavior as I was busy with juvenile taking over feeding on carcass at the same time. (Please note that Crested Caracaras copulate year-round.)
But Head-Throwback Display was used much more often in different situations, through all parts of the day (not only morning or evening), by birds of all ages and status: adults, both pairs and single adults, and juveniles as well. I also often saw it (at different times and locations) as a last try to scare away intruders from not getting closer to place when adult(s) where perching with young juveniles as en example. From the recent, long observation it was clear to me that this display has two common uses: Showing/announcing take over of the territory and/or food source (Coyote’s carcass in described case) http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904833 and also was performed when Crested Caracara was trying to gain access to food already taken by bird from another species. It was perform several times near feeding juvenile White-tailed Hawk (by both adult and juvenile Caracaras), sometimes very close http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904831, but no Caracara got close and display near feeding Red-tailed Hawk or dominant Caracara when one was feeding. Display was also present next to Turkey Vulture waiting for its turn. Also, on one occasion young Caracara shown aggressive pose and made a short jump with raised wings and open bill toward Turkey Vulture but lack of any reaction from vulture ended up this incident. It is also interesting to mention that on several occasions when juvenile Caracara was starting Head-Throwback Display , even far away from carcass, and adult bird was in visible distance (again, even far away) adult’s reaction was an immediate attack and chase away displaying young bird. On several occasions those attacks ended up with short confrontation in mid-air where juvenile was rolling over with, talons up for protection. (No I do not have a photo, was too far and did not get focus on birds fast enough.) Here is just aerial tail-chase: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904836 No chase ended up in serious fight. Juvenile was sometimes resting on the ground http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904834 taking this flattened, submissive posture http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904835 when other aggressive Caracara was coming closer. It often did not stop aggressor from chase. One of the reason I was watching for prostrate Caracaras on the ground is fact that we do not know if Caracaras are anting or not. Also when I was observing Caracaras feeding on insects (?) when they were walking and scratching dirt on the field around the carcass sometimes they were raising their feet and look at it very carefully. In no case I could see a reason. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904842
To summarize what I was able to observe; Head-Throwback Display occurred very often during a day, no matter what part of the day, and was performed by adults and juveniles to claim a territory or food; and/or when making aggressive posture near another feeding or waiting bird of different species (White-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture in this case). Both Caracara partners made that display after copulation.
A few more notes on feeding:
Except one breeding pair rest of single Crested Caracaras (including juvenile birds) were always feeding alone (Coyote is small so there was not much room to access the carcass anyway). Most dominant bird on scene was eating the carcass and the other raptors were waiting (often impatiently) around. Most impatient bird on scene was a juvenile Caracara who even sometimes was trying to grab a piece of carcass when White-tailed Hawk was feeding. It was circling around trying to gain access to carcass with hawk spreading its wings to protect it http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904819, and keep turning its back to Caracara http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904820. One time it led to almost comical situation. After trying to see and access the carcass for a few minutes http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904822 juvenile Caracara analyzed situation for the last time and decided to grab primary feather of juvenile White-tailed Hawk wing http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904825 then started to pull it http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904827 trying to pull away WTH from the carcass. It did not success and Murphy’s Law worked as well. After taking three frames my battery was dead and only two frames 1st and 3rd were good. Second, perhaps most interesting had focus on the ground http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904826.
After freeing its wing WTH went back to feeding and was paying no attention to Caracara.
Another interesting moment occurred when after long waiting for a pair of Caracaras to stop feeding, juvenile bird decided to take action no matter what. It ruffled its feathers and in begging crouched position, head down with begging call started to run straight to carcass. http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332443 For a moment I was afraid that it might be a huge mistake but to my surprise both adults slowly walked away from carcass. Juvenile, when still had its feathers ruffled out, started feeding very rapidly. My another, even bigger surprise, juvenile after a few moments of feeding, with adults did not get away too far, performed full Head-Throwback Display on the top of carcass calling loudly. At that moment, at least for some time, it was its food. .http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331455.
Few examples of self-maintenance.
Wings, tail and legs stretching:
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904837
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904840
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332441
Full body stretch: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73904838
Head-scratching: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332437
Bill stretching:
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332440
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73332439
Many more supplemental photos can be found in those two folders
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/lrgv_dec_26_27_2006_caracara
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/lrgv_dec_26_27_2006_coyote_carcass
Best regards,
Mark
