|
"He went out of the Quonset hut the same way he'd come in. But not in human form. A hunting falcon soared out the window and wheeled into the sky."
The falcon, the bird Stefan shifted into for his battle with Damon in The Struggle, is a long-winged bird of prey in close relation to the hawk. They are small birds, using ranging anywhere from 16 to 60 cm. They're noted for their speed, rapid and powerful wingbeat, and notched beaks. A small but powerful bird, a falcon can reach up to 200 mph when diving to meet their prey. Their diets typically consist of other birds and small mammals, though some species eat insects as well. They are fantastic hunting animals, and were popularly used by game hunters during the Middle Ages.
Unlike the wealth of superstition and lore I could find for the crow, I've had problems locating any supernatural or even remotely interesting stories revolving around the falcon. LJ probably chose this bird for it's speed, hunting abilities and (most importantly) its green eyes to be Stefan's animal form.
|
