ML619115757

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Overall shape similar to Crested Caracara, but much smaller (I had never seen this species before and the small size was the first thing I mentioned in the field). Pale breast and head with cream/buffy/off-white hue. Striking dark lines running horizontally towards the back of the head from the top/back of the eyes. Pink at the base of the bill, the bill itself was gray-ish silver. The bird was seen upon arrival in a eucalyptus tree in the CVS parking lot. After viewing the bird for approximately 5 minutes, it flew a short distance and perched in a palm that was lining the back-end of the CVS property. It was incredible to see how well the bird blended in with the pale wall behind the palm. After approximately 5-10 minutes, the bird flew back towards the ficus, but we lost it. Then, the bird was not seen for over an hour. It was finally relocated as it flew onto one of the light posts in the CVS parking lot, where it perched for a couple minutes before heading back in the ficus. It perched deep within the dense ficus and it took a good deal of effort to find the bird. We finally managed to find it perched in the ficus. After viewing for a few more minutes, I left. Provenance will obviously be debated. All I can report is what I saw: a Yellow-headed Caracara in a CVS parking lot, with no visible signs of animal husbandry, falconry, leg bands, etc. Absolutely GORGEOUS bird and a THRILLING encounter, regardless of how this flying being got here.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3

ISO

2200

Focal length

460 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.0

Shutter speed

1/6400 sec

Dimensions

10000 pixels x 6662 pixels

Original file size

9.64 MB