Crested Caracara Visits Vermont, Thrills Birders

By MITCH WERTLIEB & SAM GALE ROSEN • 15 HOURS AGO



The crested caracara in Woodstock, Vermont.
NATHANIEL SHARP, COURTESY

A crested caracara has been attracting attention and turning heads in Woodstock over the past couple of days. It's an impressive bird with a range that ordinarily includes Central and South America. To see it in the United States outside of the Deep South or Florida is rare, so this specimen has Vermont birders thrilled.

Nathaniel Sharp of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies was the first to identify the bird. He spoke with VPR's Mitch Wertlieb. Their interview is below. It has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mitch Wertlieb: First of all, can you describe this bird for us? How big is it? What's the plumage like?

Nathaniel Sharp: So if people are familiar with a red-tailed hawk, it's around that same size. It's a really striking bird. It has a bright orange bill and facial skin. And it's also got a cool sort of, coiffed haircut, where it's got this black crest on its head. Then the rest of its plumage, it's a very black and white bird. So it stands out really well on some of the snowy winter trees of Vermont.

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