Caracara (subfamily)
subfamily of birds
Caracara are birds of prey in the family Falconidae. They live in South and Central America, and the southern USA. Mostly they are not fast fliers, and are scavengers. One species, the red-throated caracara, eats insects and the larvae of bees and wasps.
| Polyborinae Caracarinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mountain caracara Phalcoboenus megalopterus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | Polyborinae or Caracarinae
|
| Genera | |
Their classification is somewhat unclear, but some sources say there are five living genera and 11 species.[1][2][3] They were all originally put within the genus Polyborus. Extinct species have been found in the La Brea tar pits.
- Genus Daptrius
- Genus Ibycter
- Genus Phalcoboenus
- Genus Caracara
- Genus Milvago
References
change- ↑ AOU Check-list of North American Birds. Archived 2007-04-28 at the Wayback Machine 7th edition w. supplements. Accessed 2008-04-26
- ↑ ABA Check-list (PDF). Archived 2014-10-14 at the Wayback Machine Version 6.8. Accessed 2008-04-26
- ↑ Clements, J. F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. 6th edition. Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1