Birds of Costa Rica

Caracara Falcon and Chachalaca

Chachalacas live in groups of 6 - 12 members who follow each other through the trees in search of fruit. The tasty, chicken-size birds have been heavily hunted and are nowadays rarely seen. They are named for the raucous, loud chorus of cha-cha-lac-a calls.

The Crested Caracara is one of the three species of caracaras found in Costa Rica. It belongs to the hawk family and is the national bird of Mexico. The opportunistic bird has spread southwards and is often seen on roads, searching for roadkills. They can also pursue vultures or pelicans in the air and harass them until they release their catch.