Bird Guide

Crested Caracara vs Peregrine Falcon

Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Large1.1 kgShrubland

The crested caracara has a total length of 50–65 cm (20–26 in) and a wingspan of 120–132 cm (47–52 in). Its weight is 0.9–1.6 kg (2.0–3.5 lb), averaging 1,348 g (2.972 lb) in seven birds from Tierra del Fuego. Individuals from the colder southern part of its range average larger than those from tropical regions (as predicted by Bergmann's rule) and are the largest type of caracara. In fact, they are the second-largest species of falcon in the world by mean body mass, second only to the gyrfalcon.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Oliver Komar · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Large760 gGrassland

The peregrine falcon has a body length of 34 to 58 cm (13–23 in) and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm (29–47 in). The male and female have similar markings and plumage but, as with many birds of prey, the peregrine falcon displays marked sexual dimorphism in size, with the female measuring up to 30% larger than the male. Males weigh 330 to 1,000 g (12–35 oz) and the noticeably larger females weigh 700 to 1,500 g (25–53 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Shiv's fotografia · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Crested Caracara and Peregrine Falcon.