There was some beautiful light yesterday after several days of gloomy gray so I had to get out to see if I remembered how to use my camera.
After leaving Antelope Island I spotted this adult Prairie Falcon perched on a rock near the shoulder of the causeway. After pointing the falcon out, I was able to takes some images of the striking bird.
Adult Prairie Falcon after a meal – Nikon D300, f8, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 328mm, natural light, not baited
It was obvious that the falcon had just finished a meal because there was blood showing on the ventral feathers, there were bits of meat on the talons, and most importantly the falcon’s crop was bulging.
The crop is an expandable muscular pouch near the throat or gullet used for food storage prior to the digestive process. In this image the crop extends down from just below the bill to just slightly above the raised foot and talons of the falcon and side to side to the frontal edge of the mantle and scapulars.
I wish I had been in a better position with a better angle of light. Due to vegetation growing along the road there were just a few clear areas between the rabbitbrush to get an unobstructed view of the Prairie Falcon. I do like how the photo shows off the full crop.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Prairie Falcon photos plus facts and information about this species.
I did not know about food storage in the ‘crop’ and another interesting hawk tidbit, wonderful shot Mia.
Thanks Jim! Owls don’t have crops but many of the falcons & Buteos do.
Hi!
What a beautiful shot!! The color ,form and best of all the pose and the Bird! Wow so life like it jumps rigth out of the photo. love it,love it. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Mom! The bird is a great subject that I see often. I hope I will get loads more images of it this winter.
Great capture Mia! Looks like the Falcon enjoyed a hearty meal!
Thanks Tammy.
I think the thing I love the best in this image is the light. I love that light. The white on the breast of the falcon, so wonderful. Carol
Thank you Carol. the white on the breast does seem to glow.
Beautifully detailed image, beautiful.
Thank you Debbie.
Fabulous capture Mia and the light was indeed really super! I love the great shots you find!
Thanks Sherry, I spend a lot of time out with the birds!
The photo is great, Mia! The only time I’ve seen a Prairie falcon was while it was eating, but I didn’t see a full crop.
Thank you Charlotte.
absolutely spectacular!!
Thanks Syl!
Hi Mia, I think it’s a great image! I’m not a photographer, so I am not qualified to comment on technical details, but I think it captures the bird (and the moment!) beautifully. The picture clearly shows what this bird does for a living, and it appears to be quite successful in that regard….
Nice!
Thank you Dick, and thanks for visiting my blog too. This falcon does seem to be a very successful hunter.
Another lovely photo. The details are really exquisite!
Thank you Linda, this is a very photogenic falcon.
The lighting yesterday out in the field and on today’s post did not work at all for me. The weather, lighting and wildlife never seem to coordinate well for us photographers….so I’m glad you got a beautiful shot of this bird. Looks great!
Thanks Chris, I am battling for light now too. The weather has been pretty dreary here with only short windows of blue skies.
My son and I seen one out to BRBR yesterday but we seen it to late.
Great shot.
Thank you Earl.