Bald eagle catching salmon - dramatic wildlife action photography

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Bald eagle in the exact moment of catching a salmon from an Alaskan river, water droplets frozen in time like suspended diamonds, fish struggling in powerful yellow talons, massive wings spread wide showing full six-foot wingspan, intense yellow eyes focused with laser precision, spray catching golden morning light creating rainbow prisms, Katmai National Park Alaska, super telephoto wildlife photography, shot on 600mm f/4 at 1/4000 shutter speed frozen action, National Geographic documentary masterpiece

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Wildlife Photography Masterclass

Birds of Prey

with Google's Nano Banana Pro

Master the art of generating stunning raptor imagery—from majestic eagles and mysterious owls to lightning-fast falcons and the heart-stopping drama of aerial predation. Learn telephoto techniques, feather detail rendering, and action photography that captures the essence of these magnificent hunters.

InteractiveNano Banana ProWildlife Photography

Masters of the Sky

Birds of prey represent wildlife photography at its most challenging—subjects that combine incredible speed, dramatic behavior, and stunning visual details. From the piercing gaze of a perched eagle to the heart-stopping moment of a falcon's hunting stoop, raptors offer unparalleled opportunities for dramatic imagery. Generating compelling raptor imagery requires understanding their anatomy, behavior, and the technical vocabulary of wildlife photography.

Nano Banana Pro excels at raptor photography for several critical reasons: its exceptional rendering of feather detail and barring patterns, its understanding of telephoto lens characteristics and bokeh, and its ability to freeze high-speed action with convincing motion blur in backgrounds. The model responds particularly well to specific raptor terminology, photographer references, and technical camera specifications.

Foundation

Eagle Majesty

The kings of the sky demand portraits that capture their power, nobility, and predatory precision. Each eagle species presents unique challenges.

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Extraordinary close-up portrait of a bald eagle, brilliant white feathered head contrasting with dark chocolate body, intense golden yellow eyes with perfect catch lights reflecting Alaska wilderness, powerful hooked yellow beak slightly open, individual feathers razor-sharp with barring visible, morning light sculpting every contour, Katmai National Park Alaska, shot on 600mm f/4 telephoto at f/5.6, National Geographic documentary quality, wildlife portrait masterpiece

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Bald Eagle

American icon, white head detail

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Majestic golden eagle portrait against dramatic mountain backdrop, fierce amber eyes with intense predatory focus, golden-bronze nape feathers catching sunlight like burnished metal, powerful curved beak, feather detail showing intricate barring and texture, Scottish Highlands with misty peaks behind, shot on Canon 500mm at f/4, shallow depth of field isolating the raptor, wildlife documentary photography

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Golden Eagle

Fierce expression, mountain backdrop

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Portrait of a Steller's sea eagle, the largest and most striking eagle species, massive bright orange-yellow beak dominating the frame, piercing yellow eyes against black and white plumage, distinctive white shoulder patches, feather detail showing sea spray salt texture, Hokkaido Japan winter backdrop with snow, shot on 600mm telephoto at f/4, dramatic wildlife portrait

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Steller's Sea Eagle

Massive yellow bill

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Extraordinary portrait of a harpy eagle, one of the world's largest raptors, distinctive double-crested crown of grey feathers raised in full display, piercing dark eyes, massive black talons visible, slate-grey upper body with white chest showing black banding, Amazon rainforest canopy in soft focus behind, Panama, shot on 400mm at f/4, intimate raptor portrait capturing the jungle giant

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Harpy Eagle

Crown feathers, jungle giant

Eagles present the ultimate challenge in raptor photography—subjects that combine immense physical presence with subtle plumage detail. The bald eagle's stark white-and-brown contrast differs dramatically from the golden eagle's subtle bronze tones. Steller's sea eagles demand attention to their massive orange bills, while harpy eagles require capturing their extraordinary crown feathers.

Key insight: Always include the geographic context appropriate to each species—Alaska for bald eagles, Scotland for golden eagles, Hokkaido for Steller's sea eagles, Panama for harpy eagles. This grounds the image in authentic habitat and lighting conditions.

Generate raptor imagery today

No complex setup. No API keys. Just drop an img tag into your HTML and start generating stunning birds of prey with Nano Banana Pro and 40+ leading models.

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Nocturnal

Owl Mystique

Night hunters with faces designed for sound collection and eyes evolved for darkness. Each species presents unique portrait opportunities.

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Dramatic portrait of a great horned owl at twilight, distinctive feathered ear tufts prominently displayed, intense orange-gold eyes with contracted pupils staring directly at camera, facial disc framing the features perfectly, intricate brown and cream feather barring visible across chest, perched on weathered branch with autumn forest bokeh, shot on 400mm at f/2.8 wide open, golden hour rim lighting

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Great Horned Owl

Ear tufts, orange eyes

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Ethereal portrait of a snowy owl against arctic tundra, pure white plumage with subtle dark markings, brilliant yellow eyes with perfect circular catch lights, soft feathers creating fluffy silhouette, sitting on snow-covered ground with distant mountain range, Canadian Arctic during winter, blue hour light creating cold atmosphere, shot on 500mm at f/5.6, wildlife documentary style

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Snowy Owl

White beauty, arctic setting

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Ghostly barn owl in flight at dusk, distinctive heart-shaped white facial disc perfectly lit, dark eyes creating striking contrast, silent wings spread wide showing buff and white feather patterns, caught mid-flight against twilight sky gradient from purple to deep blue, English countryside, shot on 400mm at f/2.8 with 1/2000s freezing motion, ethereal wildlife photography

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Barn Owl

Heart-shaped face, ghostly flight

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Imposing portrait of a Eurasian eagle owl, one of the world's largest owl species, distinctive orange eyes with vertical pupil slits, prominent ear tufts casting subtle shadows, heavy mottled brown plumage with intricate streaking, massive talons gripping rocky outcrop, Scandinavian forest twilight setting, shot on 600mm telephoto at f/4, intimidating and magnificent

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Eurasian Eagle Owl

Largest owl, intense stare

Owl Anatomy Reference

Facial Disc

Concave feather arrangement directing sound to ears—specify shape and coloration

Ear Tufts

Not ears but display feathers—describe position (raised, relaxed, asymmetric)

Eye Color

Varies by species: orange (great horned), yellow (snowy), dark (barn owl)

Soft Feathers

Modified for silent flight—describe fluffy, soft texture quality

Speed

Falcons and Hawks

Built for speed and agility, these aerial hunters offer dramatic action opportunities from high-speed stoops to graceful soaring.

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Peregrine falcon in dramatic hunting stoop, wings tucked tight against streamlined body reaching over 200mph, fierce yellow eye with dark malar stripe, slate-blue back feathers aerodynamically smooth, talons beginning to extend for the strike, motion blur on background suggesting extreme speed, clear blue sky, shot on 800mm at f/5.6 with 1/4000s shutter, ultimate predator action photography

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Peregrine Falcon

"Peregrine falcon in dramatic hunting stoop, wings tucked tig..."

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Red-tailed hawk soaring on thermal currents, distinctive rust-red tail fan spread wide catching golden afternoon light, broad wings showing beautiful brown and cream patterns, fierce yellow eyes scanning the ground below, belly band visible on light underside, Colorado high plains below with distant mountains, shot on 500mm at f/5.6, classic North American raptor portrait from below

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Red-Tailed Hawk

"Red-tailed hawk soaring on thermal currents, distinctive rus..."

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Magnificent white morph gyrfalcon portrait, the largest and most powerful falcon species, pure white plumage with subtle grey markings, dark intense eyes contrasting with pale feathers, powerful chest muscles visible under feathers, perched on ice-covered rock with arctic landscape, Greenland winter, shot on 600mm at f/4, shallow depth isolating the arctic hunter

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Gyrfalcon

"Magnificent white morph gyrfalcon portrait, the largest and ..."

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Harris's hawk portrait in Sonoran Desert setting, rich chocolate-brown plumage with striking rufous shoulders and leg feathers, dark intelligent eyes, distinctive white tail band, hooked beak partially open, saguaro cactus providing bokeh in background, Arizona golden hour light warming the scene, shot on 400mm at f/4, wildlife portrait showing desert raptor

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Harris's Hawk

"Harris's hawk portrait in Sonoran Desert setting, rich choco..."

Tip: When prompting for falcon action shots, always specify the exact phase of the hunt—searching from height, beginning the stoop, maximum speed dive, talon deployment, or lift-off with prey. Each phase creates dramatically different wing positions and body angles.

Action

The Hunt - Action Sequences

Predation in motion represents the pinnacle of wildlife photography. Capture the drama of talons, speed, and survival.

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Bald eagle with talons fully extended milliseconds before striking salmon in Alaskan river, massive yellow talons spread wide like grappling hooks, intense focus in golden eyes, wings pulling back to slow descent, water droplets frozen in air from splashing fish, Katmai National Park, shot on 600mm at f/4 with 1/4000s shutter freezing the decisive moment, peak wildlife action photography

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Talons Extended

Prey in sight

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Golden eagle in steep hunting dive with wings partially folded, body angled at 45 degrees, talons beginning to deploy, fierce amber eyes locked on target, feathers pressed flat by airspeed, motion blur in background suggesting rapid descent, Scottish Highlands heather moorland below, shot on 800mm at f/5.6 with 1/3200s, dramatic raptor action

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Diving Stoop

Wings tucked, maximum speed

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Red-tailed hawk mantling over fresh prey with wings spread wide in protective display, fierce yellow eye glaring at potential competitors, brown and cream wing feathers creating dramatic shield shape, talons firmly gripping catch, wild grass prairie setting, dramatic overcast lighting creating moody atmosphere, shot on 400mm at f/4, intense behavioral wildlife moment

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Mantling Over Prey

Protective posture

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Osprey lifting off from water surface with large fish clutched in talons, powerful wings fully extended on upstroke, water droplets cascading from wings and fish, concentrated effort visible in every muscle, fish struggling in talons, spray catching morning light, Florida wetland, shot on 600mm at f/4 with 1/2500s shutter, dramatic successful hunt moment

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Lift Off With Catch

Powerful takeoff

Action sequences require precise technical language. Specify shutter speeds appropriate to the action—1/4000s for freezing a falcon's stoop, 1/2000s for a fish-catching splash. Describe what should be sharp (the raptor) versus what should show motion blur (background, water spray). Include the emotional intensity—predatory focus, survival desperation, triumphant success.

Technique

Portrait Techniques

Getting the perfect raptor portrait requires attention to eyes, feathers, beaks, and positioning. Master the details that create connection.

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Extreme close-up of peregrine falcon eye filling the frame, perfect circular catchlight reflection showing sky and clouds, golden iris with complex radial patterns, dark pupil with detailed texture, surrounding feathers creating frame with dark malar stripe visible, shot on 100mm macro at f/8, scientific detail meets artistic composition, eye contact with the ultimate predator

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Catchlight Magic

Light reflected in the eye

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Detailed portrait of great horned owl showing individual feather structure, soft downy feathers around facial disc transitioning to rigid flight feathers, intricate barring patterns in browns and creams, ear tuft feathers showing fine texture, natural forest light revealing every barb and barbule, shot on 300mm at f/5.6 for maximum sharpness, wildlife macro detail

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Feather Detail

Barbs and texture

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Close-up portrait focusing on golden eagle beak, powerful hooked structure showing curved tip designed for tearing, dark horn coloration with visible texture and small scratches from use, nostril cere visible at base, fierce eye partially visible above, strong morning sidelight revealing three-dimensional form, shot on 400mm with extension tube at f/8

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Beak Texture

Hooked killing tool

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Barn owl in classic three-quarter head turn position, heart-shaped facial disc catching soft diffused light, dark eyes creating emotional connection, delicate cream and white feathers showing beautiful gradients, one ear tuft slightly raised in curiosity, wooden beam perch in old barn setting, English countryside, shot on 200mm at f/2.8 for painterly background blur

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Head Turn Positions

Three-quarter profile

Note: The catch-light is the single most important element in raptor portraits. A well-placed reflection of sky, clouds, or surrounding landscape in the eye brings the subject to life. Always describe what the catch-light reflects and its position relative to the pupil.

Mastery

Putting It All Together

A masterwork combines species knowledge, behavioral understanding, technical precision, and dramatic composition into a single unforgettable image.

Golden eagle stooping towards mountain hare in Scottish Highlands

Model: gemini-3-pro-image-preview

Golden eagle stooping at over 150 miles per hour towards a mountain hare on a Scottish Highland hillside, wings folded back like a missile in full hunting dive, feathers pressed flat by airspeed, fierce amber eyes locked on the prey with unwavering predatory focus, the hare frozen mid-leap in terror with white winter coat against brown heather, snow-dusted terrain with dramatic stormy clouds gathering behind craggy mountain peaks, the ultimate moment of predator and prey frozen in time, telephoto lens compression bringing distant dramatic sky closer, earth tones from heather purple to golden grass to snow white, every feather and fur hair rendered with documentary precision, David Yarrow meets Art Wolfe aesthetic, shot on Phase One IQ4 with 600mm f/4 at 1/4000s, wildlife photography masterpiece

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The Ultimate Hunt

"Golden eagle stooping at over 150 miles per hour towards a mountain hare on a Scottish Highland hillside, wings folded back like a missile in full hunting dive, feathers pressed flat by airspeed, fier..."

What makes this work

→Specific speed reference (150mph) signals authentic behavior
→Body position precisely described (wings folded like missile)
→Prey reaction included (frozen mid-leap in terror)
→Dramatic weather and landscape context
→Photographer references for style guidance

Prompt structure

1.Species + specific behavior + speed
2.Body position and feather state
3.Prey species and reaction
4.Environment and weather
5.Technical specs + photographer style

Practice

Create Your Raptor Portrait

Apply what you've learned using Nano Banana Pro. Experiment with different species, behaviors, and the dramatic action that defines raptor photography.

Prompt

Select By

Model

Aspect Ratio

Image URL

https://demo.imagegpt.host/image?prompt=Majestic+golden+eagle+perched+on+weathered+mountain+rock+at+golden+hour%2C+fierce+amber+eyes+with+perfect+circular+catch+light+reflecting+the+Scottish+Highlands+sky%2C+golden-bronze+nape+feathers+catching+warm+light%2C+powerful+hooked+beak+slightly+open%2C+individual+feathers+showing+intricate+barring+patterns%2C+wind+ruffling+breast+feathers%2C+dramatic+misty+mountain+backdrop%2C+shot+on+500mm+f%2F4+telephoto+at+f%2F5.6+for+shallow+depth+of+field%2C+wildlife+documentary+portrait+quality&model=google%40gemini-3-pro-image-preview&aspect_ratio=3%3A4

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

1.
Specify the catch-light The reflection of light in a raptor's eye creates life and connection. Always describe the catch-light—its shape, what it reflects, and how it interacts with the iris color.
2.
Include feather detail levels Raptors have complex plumage patterns—barring, streaking, mottling. Specify these patterns by name to get anatomically accurate results.
3.
Reference specific hunting behaviors Stooping, mantling, kiting, hovering—each behavior creates distinctive poses. Use correct terminology for authentic action sequences.
4.
Mention lens and shutter settings Super-telephoto specifications (600mm f/4, 1/4000s shutter) signal wildlife photography quality and help define compression and motion effects.
5.
Name the species precisely Generic 'eagle' or 'owl' gets generic results. Specify exact species (Steller's sea eagle, great horned owl) for accurate anatomy and coloration.

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Birds of Prey

Masters of the Sky