Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2025-19
| Common name: |
Crested Caracara |
| Scientific name: | Caracara plancus |
| Date: | 4/28/25 |
| Time: | 09:46 |
| Length of time observed: | 6 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Sheep Creek Road |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 39.9749, -111.3400 |
| Elevation: | 5720 |
| Distance to bird: | 30 yards |
| Optical equipment: | eyes, phone, binoculars, 100-400mm camera lens |
| Weather: | Cloudy |
| Light Conditions: | Sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | Raven sized |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Raptor shaped |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown with a white breast |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | chunky eagle shaped bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The bird was brown with a white cheat and white around the eyes. The
brown extended to the top of the head as well. The white chest had light
barring where it met with the brown belly. The tail was white as well
and the legs were yellow. The area around the bill was red. The bill
itself was pretty white (see photo) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | perching and then flew |
| Habitat: | juniper trees |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
any and all raptors- eliminated through detailed photo ID |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Ive observed all native raptors in UT, this was a lifer for me but I had seen many photos of them on social media. |
| References consulted: | Brian Maxfield (conservation biologist), Dannielle Finlayson (conservation biologist) |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Lizzie Wilson |
| Observer's address: | 2472 Deer Creek Way Springville UT 84663 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 4/28/25 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |