The more I study this photo the more I get out of it. I’ve tried to interpret what I’m seeing as accurately as I can but I may or may not have it right.
1/800, f/10, ISO 400, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in
It’s an older image that I never posted before because there’s no catch light in the eye and then I just forgot about it until last night when I stumbled across it again. But in a behavioral shot like this one I now believe a catch light isn’t essential, especially since we can see the light-colored right eye of the juvenile.
And I’ve always loved this pose because it’s unique but I’d never studied the image before to figure out what’s actually going on. Obviously it’s preening one of the flight feathers on its left wing. Hawks have ten primaries on each wing and this bird appears to have P-1, the inner primary, in its beak (I believe P-2 and P-3 are mostly hidden behind the other primaries). We can count at least seven of the other nine primaries by noticing their light-colored terminal edges. P-1 has been bent upwards as the bird pulls its entire length through its beak in order to re-zip the hooks between the barbules and clean off any debris that may be present.
But there’s something else that caught my eye – that group of white feathers just to the left of the bottom of P-1. Roughie secondary feathers are dark dorsally and mostly white ventrally so those feathers must be the ventral surface of some of the secondaries turned ‘upside-down’ by the action of the hawk pulling on P-1. That’s something you don’t see every day and it demonstrates just how flexible feathers really are.
At least it appears to me like that’s what’s going on but I’m far from an authority on raptor plumage so if I’ve misinterpreted anything here I hope falconers or other folks ‘in the know’ will set the record straight. I’ll admit to being slightly confused by at least one hopefully inconsequential detail so I’d appreciate confirmation or correction. I’m not here as a know-it all, I’m here to learn too.
I realize not everyone’s as enamored by avian minutia like this as I am so if I’ve bored you to tears I apologize. If nothing else I hope you can enjoy this beautiful raptor in an unusual pose.
Ron
Wonderful shot Ron! Thanks for sharing! Hope you are on the mend.
Charlotte
How could I ever be bored by a Roughie?
Actually, speaking of chickens (in one of the comments below), this morning, I drove past a group of 3 chickens on the side of the road right next to the housing project behind our school. I’ve never seen strolling chickens in our city. I guess they crossed the road. 😉
I’ll have some news about roughies tomorrow…
I’m going to chime in here. Chances of me being right are roughly 50-50. OK, maybe 45-55, but I maintain that the white is part of the P1 primary. P1-P3 are notched primaries, meaning that the end of the feather is skinnier at the top than it is through the remainder of the feather. I think what you’re seeing is the notched part as it expands into the rest of the feather. Now, that it’s white is an anomaly, but those things happen, too. Each raptor is its own individual and sometimes the DNA stacks up differently every now and again. HOWEVER, if you quote me, I’ll deny it!
We’re finding that there are feather color changes as birds age, too. Jack, the Harris’ hawk, is 18 this year, and white patches on a few of his normally dark brown secondaries and some of his body feathers appeared two years ago and are getting larger every year by a skosh. This year, he has two more white patches than he had last year. Also, his body feathers from his head down to the middle of his back have a decided gray tint. I need to send (more) photos of this year’s feather issues to Jennifer Coulsen, his breeder, who’s been interested in this. Interestingly, the same gray-ish cast is happening to Mariah, 24-year-old redtail, although not to the same degree. That could also be a function in that Jack is also darker so the gray-ish cast is more noticeable.
There’s my two cents for the day.
And your 2 cents are very much appreciated, Laura.
You could be right. I actually wondered about that possibility, partly because the white shows very little (but there is some) of the dark trailing edge of the ventral secondaries.
I wish I knew for sure but the mystery of birds is part of what makes them interesting…
Very unusual shot. I’ve looked at it several times and still trying to see which body parts are where.
Thanks, Ron. Hope you are on the mend.
Agreed, it’s kinda hard to figure out, Alice.
He looks like he just came out of the spin cycle!
It sorta does, Ken.
You haven’t bored me, but figuring out even that it’s a primary on the left wing is very far beyond my ability to decipher the photo. The only thing that’s clear to me is that the bird is preening. I’m guessing that I’m looking at the tail coming down in the front. I think my brain is worthless before breakfast… 🙂
Yup, that’s the tail down there.
Thank you Susan. I am glad I am not alone. And not sure that breakfast is sufficient to kickstart my brain. Not bored – but clueless.
I’m not surprised that you understand about the slow brain. And I’m sorry you have the same problem. Actually, I just looked at the photo again, and it still looks like a tangle of bird… 🙂
EC, I’m not surprised that you understand about the slow brain. And I’m sorry you have the same problem. Actually, I just looked at the photo again, and it still looks like a tangle of bird… 🙂
Yup. A fascinating tangle, but a tangle just the same. Of all the things I have lost it is my mind I miss the most.
He/she just had to preen that primary feather!
Great image, great shot of the contortion raptors have go through!
I love the shot, birds have to preen every primary if they are to survive.
Thank you, Dick.
Quite the contortion to get at that feather! 😉 White feather does appear to be a different feather from the one being preened. “Beard” reminds me of Americana chickens…….. 🙂
“Quite the contortion to get at that feather!”
That’s right, Judy. Birds would be in big trouble without that ultra-flexible neck.
I don’t know much about chickens except when they’re fried…
https://www.mypetchicken.com/PicturePop.aspx?image=/images/chickenPix/Large/Studio_BuffAmeraucana_583_L.jpg
I see what you mean!
Beautiful photo indeed Ron. I’ve taken many preening photos from eagles to egrets and lots in between, but this is the most unique one I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing.
Everett Saborn, Prescott AZ
I don’t believe I have any other poses like this of a preening raptor, Everett. So I agree, it’s pretty special. Thanks.
Beautiful photo! I love the fanning of the feathers under the ‘chin’ and neck area…almost looks like a very soft beard. This photo reinforces the ‘gentle ‘ look I see when I study the rough-legged…there is just something special about them. Hope springs eternal for me…some-one posted a rough-legged hawk yesterday on one of the ‘bird-sites’ I follow near Milwaukee so some are en-route back! 😊
Ha, you’re right about the beard. Never thought of that.
I’m delighted to hear of actual evidence that they’re on their way back. Thanks, Kathy.