This male Lanner falcon 'Lenny', fitted with GPS transmitter, stooped down from a height of around 200m, before levelling out and heading towards the lure in the Birds of the World display arena. The wing-shape has morphed from the classic 'teardrop' shape of the full-on near-vertical stoop, to this 'cupped' shape*, allowing the bird - still with tail furled and the trailing edge of the wings attached to it - to more easily adjust trajectory and speed, whilst fast approaching the prey/lure at a shallow angle - as here - or even horizontally.
A fraction of a second later, the bird has slightly opened the 'cup' to decrease speed and adjust position even further, before it finally extends the wings and unfurls the tail just prior to striking the prey/lure.
* an 'M' shape may also be adopted at intervals during the stoop/approach, with the wingtips detached from the still-furled tail, but not fully extended.
