![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/rough-legged-hawk-6513-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"rough-legged-hawk-6513-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nThis might have been the most gaping yawn I’ve ever seen in a raptor. Several years ago I posted a different photo of “him” yawning but this one is new to my blog.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n I’d been photographing this cooperative Rough-legged Hawk on Antelope Island for quite a while as he was preening when he unexpectedly broke out into an enthusiastic yawn. He opened his mouth so wide I think I could have seen into his mouth and clear down to his toes if he’d been facing me (that’s hyperbole but not by much). Rough-legged Hawks sometimes swallow their small mammal prey (voles, lemmings etc.) whole and I can see how they’re capable of doing it.<\/p>\n I suppose it’s possible that this was an attempt at throwing a pellet rather than a yawn but I don’t think so.<\/p>\n Besides the interesting behavior the photo illustrates I really like the image quality. The hawk is sharp, there’s no discernible noise (grain) and I have oodles of detail. It would have been nice to get everything sharp at lower left but given the circumstances that was impossible.<\/p>\n I can live with it.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This might have been the most gaping yawn I’ve ever seen in a raptor.<\/p>\n