"The crested caracara is the national bird of Mexico, and most Texans know it as the 'Mexican eagle' ... Older books refer it as Audobon's caracara and apply an outdated scientific name, Caracara cheriway. The newer name Polyborus plancus, comes from the Greek poly, or 'many,' and boros, or 'gluttonous,' indicating a voracious appetite." (John Tveten's The Birds of Texas, p. 162)

"Large, long-beaked, long-tailed raptor with long narrow wings." (The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, p. 182)

"Usually in pairs ... dark plumage with white head, tail, and wingtips distinctive." (The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, p.112)

"Wings often bowed down during glides; wingbeats even and rowing" (The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, p. 182)

"Crested Caracara is a species of open rangeland and brush country and is absent from forested regions such as the East Texas Pineywoods." (The Texas Ornithological Society Handbook of Texas Birds, p. 50)

Here is a chronicle of the search.

Photo taken with a Nikon D300, using a Tamron 150-600mm autofocus lens.

January 4, 2019.