English and Scientific names:

Crested Caracara

Caracara cheriway

Number of individuals: 

2 adults

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Calcasieu Parish

 

Specific Locality:

Vinton; Along Fabacher Rd. near the intersection of Gum Island Rd. Both birds were along a treeline in a recently plowed field.

 

Date(s) when observed:

October 7th, 2004 (10/07/04)

 

 

Time(s) of day when observed:  

4:30-4:45pm

Reporting observer and address:

Justin Bosler

 

Baton Rouge, LA

 

 

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 Devin Bosler (brother)

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Good lighting conditions, mostly overcast, no sunlight.

Optical equipment: 

Nikon Venturer LX 8x, in relatively new condition;

Nikon Fieldscope 45x eyepiece, in good condition.

 

Distance to bird(s): 

~200-300 yards.

Duration of observation:

They were observed for approximately 15 minutes.

Habitat: 

Agricultural area with shrubby, low growth woodlot divisions. Open fields/ cattle grazing lands.

 

 

Behavior of bird: 

Both caracaras were feeding, presumably on grasshoppers that were taking flight from the plowed field. Then both birds took flight when a noisy truck came down Fabacher Road (the caracaras flew in opposite directions, and one of them seemed to land again just over the treeline). I was scanning the field for these particular birds along with other species prone to use agricultural lands.

 

Description:

  • Long-legged raptor, slightly smaller and more slender than a black vulture, with yellow legs. Dark crown was contrasting with red facial skin and white cheeks and throat. In flight the white wingtips, head and tail were very noticeable. The flight was obvious with steady wingbeats and long-necked appearance.

 

 

Voice:

No voice was heard.

Similar species:

No species are similar to the crested caracara.

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

No photographs or tape recordings were obtained.

 

Previous experience with this species: 

My experience with this species is from several birding trips to Texas and Florida.

 

Identification aids:

 No identification aids were needed at the time of the observation. No identification aids were needed after the observation.

This description is written from: 

This description was written from notes taken at the time of the observation and from memory.

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes, I am very positive of my identification.

Reporter: 

Justin Bosler

Date and time: 

October 10th, 2004 (10/10/04)