| Common Name | Crested Caracara |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caracara cheriway |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 03/03/2020 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Richard Littauer |
| Mailing Address | 10 Monsignor Crosby Avenue #4 Montpelier, VT 05602 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 11/22/2020 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | Unknown. |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 43.6316956 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -72.515645 |
| Place Name | Billings Farm |
| Township | Woodstock |
| County | Windsor |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 06:45 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 10 minutes, and then 10 minutes again. |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 750 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 500 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Clear, calm. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | 30x Vortex Scope, 8x42 Vortex Binos, Nikon D500 with 500mm lens |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Lifer. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | The Caracara was high in a pine tree, hidden from view from the road where it had been first noted, across the river and next to a large, snowy field. It was in the sun. No birds in the immediate vicinity. |
| Behaviors Observed | Sitting in the sun. |
| Description of Vocalizations | Silent. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | I arrived at the Caracara stakeout location for the second time, and the bird was not there. Three other birders were also looking for it. One of them said they had seen it fly out of the trees on the river and back towards the pine trees near the back field. I walked back along the road, and to the small Museum, and then past it onto the grassy bank up to the field, in hopes of finding it. When I saw it and photographed it, I turned around and walked back to find the others, to let them know it was there. I then led them to the spot, and looked at it briefly some more, before leaving. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Large bird of prey. |
| Head | Black top, red eye. White throat. |
| Feet & Bill | Bill orange and teal. Large. |
| Upper Back | Black. |
| Lower Back & Rump | Not seen. |
| Wings | Not seen, black back. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Black belly, grey neck segueing into a white throat. |
| Tail | Not seen. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | No other birds similar to this in area. Also, it was a continuing bird. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Dark red eye typically shows age in raptors. Plumage and time of year indicates adult. Not sexed. Presumably audubonii subspecies given range, but it's out of its range, anyway, and subspecies are controversial. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
Vermont Atlas of Life Partners
