Being North America’s smallest falcon, you wouldn’t associate these guys with a big wingspan. Indeed, they are dwarfed by hawks and eagles but when they spread those wings, they really stretch out and look much bigger. Such was the case with this female I was photographing a couple of months ago. She had perched in a near perfect spot and after giving me some poses, took flight. As she did, she lifted those wings high, nearly doubling her height.
