Photographer Snaps Rare Image of Peregrine Falcon Puffing Up Like the Incredible Hulk

Photographer Snaps Rare Image of Peregrine Falcon Puffing Up Like the Incredible Hulk
Caters News
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This seriously in-shape falcon looks like he’s been spending his days off hanging around the weight rack at the gym all thanks to a well-timed photograph taken by nature photographer Srinivas at Osman Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, India.

In a set of photographs, the large-sized falcon first glances over at the camera; and although the bird’s spectacular silhouette is certainly majestic and inspiring, there’s nothing strange or unusual about it. Then, the falcon made a surprising move.

Falcon appears to be impersonating the "Hulk" in these impressive pictures (Caters News)
Falcon appears to be impersonating the "Hulk" in these impressive pictures Caters News

The second picture was altogether unexpected and quite remarkable. As if posing for a muscle mag, the falcon turns toward the 32-year-old photographer and puffs up his breast, wings, and feathers—giving the fowl a bulging Hulk-like countenance, surely enough to scare off any would-be scavenger on land attempting to snatch and run off with the bird’s catch.

Srinivas, who works as a chef and lecturer when he’s not out in the wilderness with his camera, was delighted by the images he managed to snag of the impressive bird of prey.

In an interview with Caters News Agency, Srinivas said that the falcon was one of a whopping 283 different species of birds he’s managed to capture on camera during daily visits to the lake. However, of all the different birds he’s photographed, this swole friend was by far his favorite.
Falcon appears to be impersonating the "Hulk" in these impressive pictures (Caters News)
Falcon appears to be impersonating the "Hulk" in these impressive pictures Caters News

“I have been observing peregrine falcons for this past month. On a daily basis, we saw it hunting Parakeets and pigeons which is what you can see in these pictures,” he said. “My favorite picture is the one where the falcon looks like ‘Hulk.’ This pose that I managed to capture looks like the posture of ‘Hulk.’

“It was a fantastic sighting and it will be very memorable.”

(Illustration - shevtsovy/Shutterstock)
Illustration - shevtsovy/Shutterstock
The photographs were taken just after a hunt for parakeets and pigeons, Srinivas mentioned, which can make up the bulk of a falcon’s diet day to day. Anywhere from 77 to 99 percent of what a falcon eats is other birds, according to the University of Michigan—and clearly, this falcon picked off his prey with ease before flexing to show off his might.
Although there are still a few animals that sit above the falcon on the food chain, it’s clear that this particular winged predator is certainly one of the most photogenic. In terms of capability, peregrine falcons can fly at speeds nearing 240 miles per hour at times; meanwhile, they can spot their prey more than 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away, making them both formidable hunters as well as being beautiful.
(Illustration - Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock)
Illustration - Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock
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