Eye Protection

Red-tailed Hawk at Veterans Oasis Park, Chandler, Az

1/640 at f8 and ISO800
Canon 7D
Canon 500mm with 1.4 TC

Red-tailed hawk feeding on a coot

Behavior shot

I did not expect to see this nictitating membrane covering this feeding hawk’s eye. I have photographed the membrane covering the eye of birds preening and diving ducks. I have pictures of Sand Hill Cranes mucking in the dirt for bugs with the membrane over the eye. I even photographed a diving Osprey with eye cover. But when I thought about it, it made sense -- kinda like me trying to eat a watermelon with my hands behind my back ( I would close my eyes or want some protection).

The other surprising thing is that I did not expect the membrane to be reflective material – but there is a catch light.

I clicked off about 20 shots of the hawk feeding and this is the only one with the membrane covering the eye