Crested caracara highlighted in new book

What has been called the world's smartest bird of prey has made one visit to Minnesota. A crested caracara was seen in Scott County in July 1994.

And what is a caracara? The size of an osprey but with shorter, broader wings, caracaras look like hawks, behave like vultures, and technically are members of the falcon family, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

It's a South American species, sometimes referred to as the Mexican eagle, found in deep southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

The bird, distinct in appearance, has long orange legs, long white neck, and a flat head topped with a black cap.

It's the subject of a new book, "A Most Remarkable Creature," subtitled "The hidden life and epic journey of the world's smartest bird of prey."

Like any good book about a single bird species, this one combines adventure, travel, mystery and science. Author Jonathan Meiburg makes me wish the bird would visit us again.

Published by Alfred A. Knopf this year, hardcover, 266 pages, color photographs, text expanded with very complete notes at the end of the book.