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Bad Toupee Day


Bad Toupee Day
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim White (jmirah) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4663)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR, 67mm UV filter
Exposure: f/8, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird of Prey photos 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-26 3:49
Viewed: 211
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Crested Caracara
Caracara cheriway

ORDER: FALCONIFORMES
FAMILY: FALCONIDAE

AKA:

* Mexican Eagle
* Mexican Buzzard
* Northern Caracara
* Audubon's Caracara
* Caracara du Nord (French)
* Carancho, Caraira, Quelele, Totache (Spanish)


Info on the Crested Caracara

The distinctive Crested Caracara “combines the raptorial instincts of the eagle with the base carrion-feeding habits of the vulture” (Hudson 1920). Called ignoble, miserable, and aggressive, yet also dashing, stately, and noble, this medium-sized raptor, with its bold black-and-white plumage pattern and bright yellow-orange face and legs, is easily recognizable as it perches conspicu-ously on a high point within its territory. In flight it can be distinguished by its regular, powerful wing-beats as it cruises low across the ground or just above the treetops. Known locally as the “Mexican buzzard” for its habit of scavenging alongside vultures, the Crested Caracara is an opportunist and is commonly seen walking about open fields and pastures, feeding on a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate prey, as well as on carrion. The name “caracara” is said to be of Guarani Indian origin, traro-traro, derived from the unusual rattling vocalization that the bird utters when agitated.

The Crested Caracara is a bird of open habitats, typically grassland, prairie, pastures, or desert with scattered taller trees, shrubs, or cacti in which it nests. Adult pairs are generally monogamous and highly territorial, and exhibit strong site fidelity. Young remain with their parents for several months after fledging, although at some sites, two broods are raised per year. Consistently gregarious, immatures often congregate in groups, sometimes roosting and feeding with vultures.

While the Crested Caracara ranges from northern Mexico to Tierra del Fuego (Fig. 1), in the United States it occurs only along the southern border in Texas and Arizona, and in Florida, where there is an isolated population in the south-central peninsula. This species was first described in the United States in 1831 by John James Audubon, who collected a specimen near St. Augustine, Florida (Audubon 1840). Named for its founder, Caracara plancus audubonii is one of four currently recognized subspecies and is found in the southern United States, parts of Mexico and Central America, and Cuba. C. p. pallidus is found only on the Tres Marías Islands of western Mexico; C. p. cheriway and C. p. plancus occur in South America.

Although the Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Baja California, Mexico, populations have received recent attention, this species is relatively little studied throughout its range. Rapid urban and agricultural development in Florida has resulted in loss of nesting habitat, and in 1987 this population was classified as Threatened by both the federal government and the state of Florida. In parts of Texas and South America, expansion of the poultry industry, land-clearing, and habitat conversion to ranching and agriculture may be benefiting the species. In other regions, direct human persecution continues, primarily via shooting and poisoning, mostly because of negative attitudes towards scavengers.

The Birds of North America Online
Argus, Miss_Piggy, uleko, ingridshaul, nasokoun, marius-secan, CeltickRanger, nglen, tuslaw, sandpiper2, Solrac, Noisette, pablominto, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Interesting orange face of this nice bird.Good photo.Best regards.Alin.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3808 W: 190 N: 11328] (34927)
  • [2009-10-26 4:23]

Hello Jim,
A fine portrait of the Crested Caracara taken in a great pose and from a fine POV against a blue sky with nice sharpness and colours.
A great shot!
Thanks,
Ivan

A beautiful bird, sharp and nice pose Jim
TFS
Luis

Hallo Jim
We have been away for 3 weeks and I missed out on some lovely images which is a pity. This image of the Crested Caracara has me a bit green around the collar. I would love to capture a bird like this myself. The details shown are very clear and obvious and is striking, especially the yellow paws and the lovely eye. The bird stand out so well against the clear blue sky. Thanks for sharing and best regards.
Anna.
I'll be posting some great images of our Kruger National Park vacation soon.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2989 W: 162 N: 941] (2769)
  • [2009-10-26 5:32]

Hello Jim,
What a fabulous bird this is looking so elegant here! I love your POV, the fine sharp details, the beautiful light and colours. Well done!
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1577] (6149)
  • [2009-10-26 5:42]

Hello Jim
Excellent presented! Well done
Regards
Razvan

hello Jim
this is super!!
great sharpness and good details of this beauty
greeting lou

Hi Jim,
By using such high speed, you were able to show his feathers blown about by the wind (no wonder you titled this beautiful image "Bad Toupee Day").
The sharp focus shows his "naked" face, nature provided all carrion eaters with,to allow them easier cleaning of their faces.
I like very much the positioning of the head off-centre, here-by drawing attention to his sharp beak!
Perfect exposure shows the glorious, natural colour of the sky.
Overall, your perfect technique has created a perfect image of the Crested Caracara.

I hope, these beautiful birds will survive the onslaught from farmers - in my part of the world, many birds get poisoned...

I wish you a good week,
Kind regards
Ingrid

hello Jim
very good POV and the magnificence of bird are elected,fine pose with exceptional colours and good details!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hello Jim,
This is a very nice capture with wonderful colours and sharp details.
Very good composition.

hello Jim

an excellent photo of the Crested Caracara, with a fine POV
that in French for this POV we say « en contre-plongé »
translation »»»»» againt diving, superb focus on it
with great sharpness and details, beautiful luminosity,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619] (32124)
  • [2009-10-26 12:01]

Hi Jim. I think you gave this one just about the right name. !!
You are finding some great birds for us to see. This is a fine picture of this Crested Caracara a bird i have never seen so thanks for posting. Taken wit hgood detail and natural looking colours. well taken TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2384 W: 94 N: 5493] (17500)
  • [2009-10-26 12:44]

A beautiful photo of this Crested Caracara, Jim.
Very nice pose. Great sharpness, details, natural colours and POV. Also an excellent composition and blue sky as BG.
Regards,
Peter

Impresionante y bella falconidae que no había visto nunca. es de admirar la pericia de los fotógrafos de aves, técnica que considero, en naturaleza, muy complicada.
Un abrazo Jim: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 501 W: 20 N: 1381] (4827)
  • [2009-10-26 16:37]

Great photo Jim,
This is one that I'm not at all familiar with. You show him very nicely in a pose that gives us a good view of his features and beautiful plumage. With such a massive bill he looks like he could easily do some serious damage to his prey. Good detail with beautiful natural colors!! TFS.
Ron

Hi Jim, excellent capture, is a beautiful bird and you've tasted with an angle, and a masterful level of light.

Here in Venezuela are abundant and call them "chiriguares". Can be found in areas with livestock.

Good work, excellent note attached.

TFS

Jesús

Jim

Stunning portrait of this beautiful raptor. I saw them in Costa Rica, they are awesome. Here you have captured his beauty perfectly, well done.

Chris

Bello perfil de este ave rapaz en estado de vigia captado con gran detalle y naturalidad
felicidades
Buen trabajo
un saludo

Hello Jim
you have taken this shot of this Caracara very nicely with great pose of the bird
fine details on his beautiful plumage, the lighting is very good
i like also the blue BG very much
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Hello Jim,

An impressive bird!
It is hard to say where the beak ends and the face starts, hehehe...
IO like the pose that is captured, the position on top of the pole makes him look his best!
Well framed with good details in the plumage -

Greetings,
Pablo -

A nice graceful pose of the caracara, and on a very nice blue sky background. A bird I would very much like to photograph myself.
Paul :)

Hi Jim,

The point of view is showing with precision the details and colors of the Crested Caracara. The subject is well framed. The good luminosity is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

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