Skeleton of a Peregrine Falcon - Katrina van Grouw
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Country: United Kingdom
Title: Skeleton of a Peregrine Falcon
Specie: Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Description: The skeleton of a Peregrine Falcon shown in the act of stooping on prey. The talons for grasping, and notched beak for killing, speak for themselves, but notice also the deep keel on the breastbone that supports the powerful flight muscles. It's no coincidence that pigeons, the main prey item of peregrines, share a similar flight anatomy: a broad, stocky body with a deeply keeled breastbone, short, pointed wings, and a mid-length tail used as a rudder in flight. Peregrines hunt prey on the wing, by descending at breath-taking speed and, only at the last moment, bringing their talons forward to grab their quarry out of the air. That is the moment pictured here.
The drawing was made from a skeleton we mounted for the new edition of The Unfeathered Bird to be published in 2023.
Category: Scientific illustration
Technique: Pencil
Size: 42cm x 29.7 cm (A3)
Year: 2018
