WyoFile
Aloft and lost: Here are the 5 ‘accidental’ bird sightings in Wyoming this year…
Crested caracara and bean goose in the Rockies? Yes indeed. The biological phenomenon of vagrancy appears particularly pronounced in 2025.
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Rare Crested Caracara Sighted in Wyoming for First Time, Spotted in Yellowstone and Tetons National Parks
Yellowstone and Tetons National Parks have recently become the unexpected temporary home for a rare avian visitor: the Crested Caracara. This bird of prey, typically found across Mexico, Central, and South America, with small populations in southern Texas and Florida, has been sighted in Wyoming for the first time on record. The individual Caracara was initially observed in Tetons National Park on May 20th. After approximately a week, it reappeared further north in Yellowstone National Park. Ornithologists note that Crested Caracaras possess a natural tendency to wander far beyond their established ranges, with previous out-of-range sightings reported as far north as Northern Alberta and Nova Scotia. Experts suggest various factors could contribute to such unusual sightings, including habitat changes, climate shifts, or simply the species' inherent migratory curiosity. The Crested Caracara is a distinctive bird, comparable in size to a Red-tailed Hawk, recognized by its bright reddish-orange face and its habit of perching on the ground. Visitors to Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks this summer are encouraged to keep an eye out for this unique and unexpected feathered guest.
