Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway audubonii)
Half Moon Bay, Sonoma County, CA
22 February 2015
Joseph Morlan
This
bird was found by Andrew Rush and Irene Steves on 10 February and seen regularly thereafter. Today, Jeff Morlan
and I arrived at the spot about a half mile east of the Historic Johnson House on Higgins Canyon Road at about
10:45am. Three cars were parked along the north side of the road just east of the Arroyo Leon bridge and numerous
birders, some with scopes and cameras were present. We were told the bird had just disappeared behind some brush,
but by the time I got my scope set up, I saw the Crested Caracara stalking across a distant field in the direction
of an old cow carcass. Eventually it stood on top of the carcass and started feeding on it. We had the bird in
view for about 15 minutes and I attempted to digiscope it, with rather mediocre results as seen here. Distance
estimated via Google Earth was a quarter mile. Much
better photos were taken 15 February by Caroline Lambert.
Description
The following description is based on memory and on photos:
A distinctive raptor walking through grass on rather long legs. Views were distant, but the dark body, light
buff neck and chest and black cap were evident. Occasionally a bit of red skin could be seen on its face extending
to the base of its bill. One time it spread its tail slightly, and it appeared white with a dark band at or near
the tip. 
Identification
I recently returned from South America where I saw numerous Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus). They
are similar but have pale barring on their backs both as adults and as immatures. Our bird had a solid black back
that contrasted with slightly browner wing coverts confirming Crested Caracara.
Discussion
San Mateo County has two previously accepted records and two additional unsubmitted reports of this species
as follows:
- September 28, 2002 Pescadero not submitted to the CBRC reported in North American Birds 57:113
- October 21 - November 06, 2002 vicinity Half Moon Bay not submitted to the CBRC reported in North American
Birds 57:113
- February 14, 2008 Ano Nuevo photo submitted accepted by the CBRC
- March 13, 2014 Pescadero photo submitted accepted by the CBRC
Three subspecies are currently recognized. Birds north of Panama are assigned to C. c. audubonii which
is replaced by the nominate race in South America south to the Amazon Basin. Adults of the nominate race have the
dark colors blacker, less brown than C. c. audubonii but immatures, such as this are indistinguishable.
A third paler race has been described from the Tres Marías Islands off w Mexico.
A Newspaper
account was published in the Half Moon Bay Review. The bird was last reported from the area 28 February 2015.