![Zen and me](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8231779330_253025ea73_z.jpg)
Back in October I got to spend just a bit of quality time with Zen, FCWR’s education Cooper’s Hawk. Due to their high-strung nature, Cooper’s Hawks aren’t often kept as glove-trained education birds.
![Cooper's Hawk feather beauty](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8231779262_b216bcbaa9_z.jpg)
Sitting with beautiful Zen, I couldn’t help staring at his piercing eyes and his super-cool superciliary ridges.
![Zen](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8230717269_b71c05a4e4_z.jpg)
The superciliary ridge is also known as the supraorbital ridge. It’s that bony shield above the eye, kind of like a brow line on steroids, that gives many raptors a sort of “angry bird” look. The ridges serve to block out glare from the sun. They also provide protection to the eyes. Pretty neat to see close-up, yes?
![Zen's superciliary ridge](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8231783300_49221e1604_z.jpg)