The crested caracara is about the size of an osprey, but with shorter wings. The caracara has long, yellow legs and a massive bluish bill. The living prey are usually small turtles and turtle eggs. In addition to these items, caracaras prey on insects, fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, birds, and small mammals. Adult caracaras maintain large territories, usually with their mates.
Pair bonds are strong, persisting until one of the mates dies.
As the breeding season approaches, the pair begins to spend more time at the nest site. The nest site, a bulky structure of slender vines and sticks, is usually located in a cabbage palm. The breeding peak is from January to March, with the usual clutch being two or three eggs. Incubation lasts about 32 days, and the young leave the nest at about 8 weeks of age. Caracaras occur in the following Florida counties Glades, DeSoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Osceola.