The Peregrine Falcon, also Known as Duck Hawk
explanatory Essay
711 words
Whoosh! A grey-and-white streak rushes past you, barely giving you any time to duck and cover! It’s a bird, it’s a plane – oh wait, it’s a bird, but not just any plain-old bird, it’s the Peregrine Falcon! (Not to be confused with the Millennium Falcon, the iconic spaceship from Star Wars.) The Peregrine Falcon (Also known as ‘Duck Hawk’) is one of the most wickedly awesome birds of prey you’ll ever see, and not just because of its barred, steely appearance, a diet consisting of over 2000 different species, and how it’s swiftly adapted to its environment with the ability to hunt soaring, and then snap the spines of its prey with its hooked beak and talons. No, no, there is much more to this raptor than that. Ready? Well, let’s ‘dig’ in.
Starting off with its physical appearance, the Peregrine Falcon is a medium-sized raptor with a stream-lined body measuring 34 to 58 cm in length, and a wingspan measuring 74 to 120 cm. Plus, as well as other birds of prey, the Peregrine Falcon is sexually dimorphic, meaning female ‘Duck Hawks’ may be up to 30% larger than the male! Just compare 424 grams and 910 grams; clearly there’s a big difference in size! In addition to their size, they also have hooked golden beaks and talons, used to crush spines and clutch prey. Generally speaking, most people can recognize the Peregrine Falcon when they see a bird soaring through the air with a black feather-covered head and ‘moustache’. Needless to say, with all of those champion-worthy features, and that barred, steely look, having a Peregrine Falcon glare at you is definitely something you don’t want!
Now, envision yourself chasing someone at 322 km/h. The Peregrine Falcon is built with a need for speed (so well that I highly doubt NASCAR could’ve d...
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...hermore, the Peregrine Falcon has adapted to these environments with curved beak and talons, used for hunting and grasping surfaces with ease. To illustrate, let’s say we have a Peregrine Falcon and it’s talons at the ready. What surfaces will those feet let Duck Hawks perch on? Icy Branch? Check. Dangerous Cliff? Check. Bent lead pipe on top of a skyscraper? Check. For the most part, if you happen to find any high and dangerous areas, be sure look for Peregrine Falcons hanging out; I can almost guarantee you’ll find one.
Ultimately, I think the Peregrine Falcon should have a trophy for “Most Outstanding Bird” due to its many outstanding qualities. As previously stated, its streamlined body shape and long wingspan is built for speed, which just adds to its overwhelming ability to hunt with its powerful beak and talons. Consequently, any prey with a will to live
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the peregrine falcon (also known as duck hawk) is one of the most wickedly awesome birds of prey you'll ever see.
- Explains that the peregrine falcon is a medium-sized raptor, and that it is sexually dimorphic. they have hooked golden beaks and talons.
- Explains that the peregrine falcon is built with a need for speed, streamlined body shape, powerful muscles, and long wingspan.
- Explains that the peregrine falcon has habitats all around the world. they're most commonly spotted in the arctic tundra, but only in antarctica and new zealand.
- Opines that the peregrine falcon should have a trophy for "most outstanding bird" due to its many outstanding qualities.
Related
- explanatory
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In this essay, the author
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In this essay, the author
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662 wordsRead More - Flight Adaptation Essayexplanatory essayNeck and beak – *The neck is long and felixble as a result bird is able to rotate its head for reaching food and can see all around. *The jaws are teethless and are produced into beak which are variously modified to pick up food, making nests and preening etc. Skin – *The skin of bird is loose which allows movement of the flight muscles. Limbs –*Forelimbs are modified into wings and are attached closer to center of gravity and farther from head than in other animals. *The wings act as propelling organs for flight. *Hand bones are small, fused, flattened and specialized to manipulate the flight
In this essay, the author
- Explains that flight adaptations involve morphological, anatomical, and embryological modifications that enable an organism to live in a particular habitat.
- Explains the body of birds is boat-like and maintains its equilibrium by the heavy central region. the body is covered by various types of feathers that make it smooth and streamlined.
- Explains the pectoral and subclavius muscles, which make the birds' wing stroke very powerful and provide most of the movements needed for its down stroke.
- Explains that the bird's skeleton is well adapted for flight. the hollow bones of the birds are light but strong enough to withstand takeoff, flight and landing stresses.
- Explains that in some species of birds, the air-filled skeleton is so lightweight that the bird's feathers weigh more than its entire body weight. the skull is composed of thin, hollow bones.
- Explains the thoracic vertebrae of birds are fused to help keep the trunk of the body stiff during flight.
- Illustrates the synscacrum of a bird with the last pre-thoracic vertebra.
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- Explains that the absence of mid-ventral symphysis between pubes and ischia has resulted in a more posterior displacement of the viscera causing shifting of centre of towards the legs.
- Explains that birds' respiratory system is proportionately larger and much more efficient, as flight is a more demanding activity than walking or running.
- Concludes that birds have undergone drastic adaptations in relation to flight.
1553 wordsRead More - Canadian Birdsexplanatory essayCanadian Birds The Branta Canadensis, better known as the Canada Goose is a magnificent bird which can be found all over North America. People from all over North America look towards the sky when the Canada Geese go honking overhead in their trademark "V" formation, and because they nest all over Canada and some of the United States many people have a chance to witness the birds migration to the nesting grounds and back to the wintering grounds. The Canada Goose is respected by so many of us because of it's dignity and courage and refusal to give up. Over the years the Canada Goose has picked up many slang names, some of these are: Canadian Goose, Canadian Honker, Honker, Honker Goose, Big Honker, Old Honker, Boy Goose, Bernache (French for Barnacle Goose), Big Mexican Goose, Blackee, Blacknecked Goose, Brant, French Goose, Northern Goose, Reef Goose, Ringneck, Wavy, and White-cheeked Goose (Wormer).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the canada goose's color pattern works as a great disguise when lying flat with the neck outstretched.
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- Explains that after six weeks a color pattern can be seen and inclination to fly i.e. running on top of the water flapping its wings, after eight weeks they look like adults and weigh six to seven pounds.
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3245 wordsRead More - Macbeth by William Shakespeareanalytical essayThe Hawk’s fascist connotations are apparent throughout the play. The bird ends his monologue by stating, ‘I am going to keep things like this’. This line can be separated into two parts; the first section, ‘I am going to’ implies his intentions not to permit change. These points to the fact that he has ultimate control of his fate, his future is assured; unlike Macbeth whose fate is on the hands of others. This is followed by the words, ‘keep things like this’, which connotes that his authority and his position on top of the food chain is infallible and will remain until his death. This parallels fascist regimes where the dictator has ultimate power over his subjects and nothing can disrupt his control. The Hawk’s control over his own future is described in a way that connotes a fascist regime.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth's soliloquy at the beginning of act 1, scene 7, is a definitive statement, which is utilized to reinstate his power and regain control. his hesitancy over committing regicide is evidence of the fact that
- Analyzes how lady macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood. the slur becomes even more effective, coming as it does from the one who should surely be a source of admiration and tenderness.
- Analyzes how macbeth's soliloquy in act 3 scene 1, after he bid farewell to banquo and fleance, captures best his overriding ambition, which is predominant throughout the play.
- Analyzes how macbeth combines freedom with dictatorship to subconsciously influence the murderers' decisions.
- Analyzes how macbeth kindles in the murderers a hatred of banquo. he uses powerful metaphors to reduce the humanity of the murderers to the level of beasts.
- Explains that macbeth's character wants to climb the social ladder, and the murderers want to gain a higher social status.
- Analyzes how macbeth's personality is a complete contrast compared to act 1. the effects of power on him are now painfully clear.
- Analyzes how ted hughes' "hawk roosting" deals with the themes of evil, power and human nature from the point of view of a hawk, who is power personified.
- Analyzes how the environment proves to be a valuable ally to the hawk, providing him with ‘buoyancy’ and the ‘sun’s rays’ for stealth and camouflage.
- Analyzes how hughes uses repetition to accentuate the hawk's dominant role. the repetition of the word ‘creation’ describes that the hawk feels as though ‘it took whole of creation’ to create his perfect form.
- Analyzes how hughes uses the oxymoron to emphasize the hawk's questionable manners and social etiquette.
- Analyzes how the hawk shows signs of omnipotence, his ability to decide who lives and who dies illustrates clearly his sheer power.
- Analyzes how the hawk's fascist connotations are apparent throughout the play. the bird ends his monologue by saying, ‘i am going to keep things like this’.
1445 wordsRead More - The California Condoranalytical essayFossil evidence suggests that the Cathartid (New World) vultures have been around for quite some time with two fossil species dated from the early Oligocene (about 35 million years ago). During the Pliocene and Pleistocene (about 2 million years ago) th...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the california condor (gymnogyps californianus) is one of the largest flying birds in northern america.
- Explains that the california condor lives in rocky scrubland, forested regions, mountains, canyons and gorges.
- Explains that other scavengers, such as vultures, and coyotes, are the only real competition for g. californianus, however, due to their size, they can intimidate other competitors off.
- Argues that humans are the largest threat to the california condor, but we need to discus why and how it was us that brought them to extinction.
- Cites defenders of wildlife's fact sheet on the california condor. ehrlich, dobkin, & wheye.
- Explains that san diego zoo (2014). california condor. retrieved march 06, 2014. phenomena: not exactly rocket science.
1274 wordsRead More