A quick bateleur eagle paint. Currently my favourite eagle due to the feathers on its mane. It acts as a defence against snake bites, especially snakes that use heat pits to detect their prey as the black mane gets hotter than the exposed skin. I remember learning (from a falconer) that these guys almost completely shut down during a snake bite, lowering their heart rate so much that the snake believes the eagle dead and lowers its guard (however I can't seem to find a reference for this behaviour). The eagle then waits for the snake to drop off and then eats the snake as a tasty snack. . . . #bateleureagle #eagle #bird #birdsketch #eaglesketch #painting #sketch #drawing #digitaldrawing #speedpaint #feathers #raptor #birdofprey #surfacepro #jarabird #art https://www.instagram.com/p/ByOlHB-pXZ7/?igshid=76g476vpzsr9