Though the crested caracara hunts for reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and small mammals, its primary diet is dead animals. You can often find them foraging for food on the ground and can be seen eating carrion with vultures.

These raptors live in open savannah areas in northern South America, Central America, Mexico, Cuba and in south central Florida. (The pictures posted here were taken at a local nature center rehabilitation center.)

This species is threatened due to development of open areas into farmlands and urban sprawl.