ML222782891

Age and sex

Immature Unknown sex - 1

Behaviors

Foraging or eating

Observation details

Exceptional views of a most unexpected species. Bird was seen amid the ranch country on Old Sayersville Rd. First seen relatively low and at close range, and identified by yellow cere and rounded head. Dismounting the vehicle, we watched the bird “working” an apparent territory as it was never out of sight for at least 30 minutes. Key marks included all black plumage on back, head, breast, and upper side of wings and tail. From below the bird displayed black forewings and dusky-white flight feathers with light black lines almost like checkering, and yellow legs. This bird was unquestionably an immature bird, and a bird likely hatched last year. Telltale marks included scattered white feathering on the breast, head, and upper-wing, and a tail that, from above, revealed barely discernible grayish bands, and from below, was dusky white with thin black lines. Amazingly, the bird caught a lizard in front of us and relocated to a dead tree where it perched for another 30 minutes and ate. See photos.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

200

Focal length

371 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1902 pixels x 1559 pixels

Original file size

1.5 MB