Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway)

Crested Caracara was added to the Review List on 18 May 1991 and was removed from the Review List 8 Sep 2007.

Accepted Records

One adult (1993-79) on 18 Dec 1993, Cameron: Sabine NWR, "Club House;” John T. McBride, Jr.; NASFN48(2):217.

One adult (95-89) on 22 Jul 1995, Cameron: vicinity of menhaden plant, W. side of Calcasieu ship channel and Cameron ferry landing on Hwy. 82; Matthew Pontiff; NASFN 49(5): 938, LOS News 168: 6.

One adult (1997-08) on 22 February 1997, Cameron: Lacassine NWR Pool Unit, short road to the right after entering; Rosemary Seidler.

One (1998-29) on 20 Jan 1998, Calcasieu: Charlie Moss Road, approximately 3 mi. E of Gum Cove Road; Joseph P. Kleiman and Karen Fay; FN52(2):209.

Two adults (1998-53) on 24 Apr 1998, Calcasieu: Fabacher Road; Allan Strong. FN52(3):341 indicated that these birds were suspected of nesting.

One (1998-146) on 26 December 1998, Calcasieu: Fabacher Road, approx. 1 mi. N Hwy. 108; Joseph P. Kleiman. One (1998-119) on 29 Dec 1998, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, NE corner of Lacassine Pool; Joseph P. Kleiman and Karen Fay. A bird seen in the same vicinity on 16 Jan 1999 (JPK-card) was considered to be the same individual; NAB53(2):174.

One (1999-038) on 24 April 1999, Cameron: entrance to Rutherford Beach; Joseph P. Kleiman.

One (1999-035) on 27 November 1999, Cameron: W Johnsons Bayou, chenier S Garner Ridge; Peter H. Yaukey.

One (2000-72) on 3 Dec 2000, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, just N of Lacassine Pool; Joseph P. Kleiman.

Two (2001-25) on 6 Jan 2001, Calcasieu: approximately 1 mi. N of Hwy. 108 on Fabacher Road; Joseph P. Kleiman; NAB55(2):180 indicated these two birds seen to 4 Feb (but see next record).

One (2001-94) on 17 Feb 2001, Calcasieu: approximately 1 mi. N of Hwy. 108 on Fabacher Road; Joseph P. Kleiman. This and LBRC record no. 2001-25 likely involve the same birds.

Two, adult and immature (2001-40), on 14 Dec 2001, Cameron: Goose Island; David P. Muth (ph) and B. Mac Myers III (ph). Found during Lacassine NWR-Thornwell CBC.

One (2002-097) on 19 April 2002, Calcasieu: near Hayes; Jonathan L. Dunn.

One adult (2002-020) on 27 April 2002, Calcasieu: Corbina Rd., ½ mi. S Tom Stegal Rd., N30.09o, W 93.16o; Jason D. Weckstein.

One adult (2002-095) on 27 April 2002, Calcasieu: Fabacher Rd., approx. 3 mi. SW Sulphur; Dave Patton.

One adult (2002-066) on 25 October 2002, Jefferson Davis; just E Thornwell at Hwys. 380 X 382; Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff.

One (2002-058) on 16 December 2002, Cameron: Goose Island; David P. Muth and B. Mac Myers III.

Three (2002-059) on 16 December 2002, Jefferson Davis: Thornwell, rice fields ½ mi. S Hwy. 14 and 3/10 mi. W Hwy. 3056; Gwen B. Smalley.

One adult (2003-035) on 14 December 2003, Cameron: along Illinois Plant Rd., leading to Lacassine NWR Pool Unit; Joseph P. Kleiman.

Two, one adult and a subadult (2003-38), on 14 Dec 2003, Jefferson Davis: Goose Island Road, approximately ¾ mi. S of Hwy. 14; Phillip A. Wallace, David P. Muth, and B. Mac Myers III (ph); NAB58(2):241.

One (2004-03) on 2 Jan 2004, Jefferson Davis: approximately 3 mi. W of Thornwell on Hwy. 380; Paul E. Conover (ph).

One (2004-033) on 28 February 2004, Calcasieu: E Hwy. 27, S Lionel Derouen Rd.; Joseph P. Kleiman.

One immature (2004-028) on 30 April 2004, Cameron: Hackberry Ridge, 2 mi. WSW Johnsons Bayou; B. Mac Myers III.

One adult (2004-037) on 1 August 2004, Calcasieu: W. side Hwy. 14, 0.3 mi. N Hwy. 27 at Holmwood; Paul Sunby.

Two adults (2004-044) on 7 October 2004, Calcasieu: Vinton; Fabacher Rd. near intersection Gum Island Rd.; Justin Bosler.

One immature female (2005-09) on 18 Apr 2005, Cameron: W of Hwy. 27 on LeBoeuf Road, NW of Sweet Lake; Karl Zimmermann (LSUMZ179490, D. L. Dittmann*). This is apparently the first specimen for Louisiana.

Photo by Donna L. Dittmann

Two, adult and sub-adult (2005-03), on 22 Apr 2005, Cameron: Hwy. 82 at mile post 7, 2 mi. W of entrance to Hackberry Ridge/West Johnson Bayou Gas Field; David J. L’Hoste (ph).

One (2005-52) on 23 Apr 2005, Cameron: Garner Ridge, 3 mi. W of Johnsons Bayou School; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff. This and LBRC record no. 2005-03 could possibly involve the same individuals.

Two adults (2006-024) on 4 September 2006, Jefferson Davis: along Hwy. 14, ca. 2 mi. E of Hwy. 99, S of Thornwell; Devin Bosler.

Two adults (2006-63) on 19 Nov 2006, Calcasieu: Lionel Derouen Road between Hwy. 27 and Fruge Road; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff; NAB61(1):86.

Three, two immatures and one adult (2006-40), on 6 Dec 2006, Calcasieu: approximately 2 mi. E of Holmwood from intersection Hwys. 14 and 27; Michael J. Musumeche (ph) and James Beck (ph). Presumably same individual reported at this location 16-17 Dec 2006, Phillip A. Wallace (ph), David P. Muth, and B. Mac Myers III.

One adult (2006-041) on 7 December 2006, Calcasieu: S Holmwood, Hwy. 27 near junction with Hwy. 14; James W. Beck.

Two adults and one immature (2007-30) on 24-29 Apr 2007 & two adults on 5-6 Jun 2007, Calcasieu: Rossignol Road about 1 mi. W of Bell City; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff; NAB61(3):460.

One immature (2007-31) on 24 Apr 2007, Cameron: Lacassine NWR, pool unit; Donna L. Dittmann (ph) and Steven W. Cardiff.

Two (2007-008) on 31 January 2007, Vermilion: just NE headquarters of White Lake WCA; Bob Russell.

Unaccepted Records

One (2004-042) on 1 October 2004, Vermilion: end of Jean Marie Rd., S of Erath (Hwy. 14 to S on Hwy. 685 to left on Jean Marie Rd.). This report was initially submitted without a description. A description was solicited and eventually provided by the observer, but the description was exceptionally brief. Although this is a relatively easy-to-identify species that is undergoing a range expansion in SW Louisiana, in 2004 this observation was well east of where the species was “expected” at the time. Mainly because of the tardy and superficial description, the record did not receive adequate votes for acceptance during the Discussion Vote.