[peter monahan]

Originally Posted by High Wood

Indeed, and it is almost certainly a livery badge but I can see the original poster's line of reasoning. Please see Baronet Hood's button.

https://sites.google.com/site/livery...-raven-or-rook

Not the same bird, IMHO - the stance of the what is meant to be a Cornish Chough in Viscount Hood's livery, judging by the example, is quite different from what appears here. It appears to be 'overt', which is the avian version of 'statant' [standing]. An example of the Hood Battalion cap badge is attached.

I can't find a term for the head up pose though 'vigilant' is applied to birds too.