Red-shouldered hawk landing

A winter hawk dropping onto a fence rail, wings still fully spread and braking hard right before touchdown — the wide, banded tail and barred wings fanned out make for a great look at the flight feathers that’s much harder to get once the bird has folded up and settled.

Getting the shot

High ISO was the tradeoff for a fast enough shutter in flat February light. Caught right at the peak of the landing motion, wings at full spread — a half second later and the pose collapses into a normal perched bird.