A FALCON IN THE FIELD

This is a pencil study of a Peregrine Falcon hunting a Mallard, whose presence is only depicted by the feathers strewn about. Ex unge leonis, or ex plume aves, if my Latin is correct in tranposing the allegory showing the lion by its claw into an ornithological equivalent. It is not generally observed, but this duck has some of the most finely vermiculated feathers in the bird kingdom, and I liked using them for effect, which may not show up in low res imagery.