Do some raptor species tuck their feet faster after take-off than others? I’m beginning to think so. For example, I believe I’m beginning to notice anecdotally that Red-tailed Hawks are slower to tuck their feet under the base of their tail than Swainson’s Hawks are.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this Swainson’s two days ago on the farm very soon after take-off and its feet are already tucked. I pay attention to the timing because I like getting the feet fully tucked instead of still trailing behind from the push-off as that position strongly implies full flight instead of very recent take-off.
It’s possible my tentative conclusion is incorrect but if it’s accurate I’m guessing that it might be because the larger more massive feet of the red-tail simply take longer to tuck comfortably.
Probably something only a bird photographer would care about…
Ron
PS – This should be my last post from the road. It’s been a great trip but I’ll be glad to get home.
Beautiful shot! This looks like a bird with a definite purpose in mind. And I’m glad you had a good trip. Hope your settling into home goes smoothly.
A fascinating thought. And it is thoughts and questions like that which lead to discoveries. Slightly off topic. On this side of the world it has only recently been identified that our cockatoos are almost all ‘left-handed’. Have you noticed a similar preference (or any preference at all) in the birds you regularly photograph?
And I am glad that you had a wonderful trip – and not surprised it is going to feel good to be home.
“Have you noticed a similar preference (or any preference at all) in the birds you regularly photograph?”
I sure have, EC. See the following two posts regarding “handedness” in some Short-eared Owls I photographed. The first one is the best one but the second has some interesting comments. I just got home and I’ll answer more comments as soon as possible but I’ve barely started unpacking and I’m bushed!
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2011/02/04/handedness-in-short-eared-owls/
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2013/10/20/short-eared-owls-and-the-handedness-phenomenon/
Thank you. And yes, I had seen the second post. Memory slippage. Scary…
I appreciate the intensity of the birds gaze. Interesting about the birds. Would the Great Horned be even slower?
Great observation. It’s not something I ever thought about before. If this is true across the board then Ferruginous Hawk and Golden Eagle should be even slower to tuck their feet. Let me add one question to consider. Does the speed of tucking the feet vary depending on whether the bird is simply. taking off or if it is headed directly to prey it has jst spotted? If it’s heading to prey, perhaps it holds its feet in a more “ready” position. I don’t know the answer, but it would be fascinating to learn what your observations reveal.
“Does the speed of tucking the feet vary depending on whether the bird is simply. taking off or if it is headed directly to prey it has jst spotted?”
An interesting question, Dan. I’ve never noticed that particular correlation though it could exist. But I’ve sure seen what I think is a difference in tucking speed between red-tails and Swainson’s. I don’t notice it so much in the field because it happens too fast and I’m mostly concentrating on my photography technique at that point – it’s mostly when I’m analyzing my images. When you’re studying images taken in bursts of 10 frames/sec it kind of jumps out at you.
I try to take the variables into account (and there are lots of them) but I do think I see a pattern…
What a beautiful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.