CHC Apprentice- Glossary Terms Flashcards
Study CHC Falconry Apprentice Prep.
Abba, Aba, Abbah (plural Abbi)
Arabic word for “cloak”, a safe way to immobilize raptors during care such as trimming beaks and imping, etc. Made of breathable cotton with wing slots and an attached elastic strap. Protects the feathers from being badly ruffled or broken, and also allows bird to breath freely.
Accipiter
Short-winged forest dwelling hawk with rounded wings long tail and light eyes. Goshawks Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawk. Latin for genus of shortwinged hawks. Vernacular name for these birds.
Apprentice Falconer
Beginning stage of falconry in USA. At least 12 y/o pass written test showing mastery of book knowledge, sponsored under 2 year supervision of a master or general falconer. Prove to state wildlife required facilities and equipment to care for bird. Trap and care for passage Red-tail or Am. Kestrel.
Aleterio
Falconer who is flying Aplomado falcons.
Alethe
Female Aplomado falcon flown in falconry.
Arboreal
adj. inhabiting or frequenting trees
Aspergillosis
Asper- Form of fungal infection leading to lethal inflammation of the lungs. Fungal (mold) disease of the respiratory tract spec. air sacs and lungs. Almost always fatal.
Austringer, astringer, ostringer, autoursier
(1) One who flies a short-winged hawk. (2)One who keeps and hunts shortwings (accipiters) and broadwings (buteos).
Aylmeris
Aylmeri jesses Modern version of restraints to control raptors. Comprised of anklets bracelets/cuffs (around tarsi) mews jesses w/ swivel slit (used when hawk is teathered) or slitless field jesses (Whenever the hawk is flown free hunting). Required by law. Falconers should always change to a slitless field jess before flying the hawk free, or else if it flies off, high probability it would get hung up and caught on something.
Bagged quarry, bagged game, baggy, baggies
Live creature let out freely or restrained for the hawk to chase. Considered unethical when employed for everyday hawking. Only used when entering or natural quarry is very scarce, to ensure hawk will get a flight. (Also see trains)
Bal-chatri
Wire cage trap covered with monofilament slip nooses. Baited with bird or mammal placed in view of wild hawk for purposes of trapping without injuring both raptor and bait. Works well with ground-quarry-oriented raptors.
Barbary falcon (Falco Pelegrinoides)
Considered to be subspecies of peregrine, which it replaces in the inland desert regions of Africa. Red shaheen considered by some a genetically isolated subspecies of Barbary.
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Owl size of Harris’ hawk allowed for falconry in CA but usefulness TBD. Intruding and forcing spotted owls from habitats.
Bate, to
Wild jumping off and beating of wings of a hawk attached to a perch block or fist. May be caused by wildness, fright, boredom, or temper. Also done toward lure or quarry.
Beam Feathers
The long feathers of a hawk’s wing, also called the “primaries.”
Bells
Small bells, usually of brass, nickel or stainless steel. Bells are attached to the hawk’s legs by a bewit, to the Aylmeri bracelet, to the tail on a tail mount, or around the neck on a halsband. The bells alert the falconer to the bird’s locations in the field, be that in a tree, in the sky or down on quarrry, an additional benefit is the ability to monitor the hawk’s activities in the mews or on the perch.
Bewits
Short thin strips of light leather by which bells are fastened to the legs. Recently, plastic tie-wraps or cable ties have become popular, but have many shortcomings and dangers.
Bind, to
Seizing quarry or lure with the feet in a tight, clamped-on hold.
Bird hawk
A hawk that preys mainly on other birds.
Block, block perch
(1) Upended log, cone or pyramid, usually of wood or stone, perhaps with padded top and swiveling right, to which a longwing is tethered outside. (2) A wooden or concrete perch with a padded top it tapers from the top to the bottom, and at the bottom end is a spike which can be driven into the ground.
Blood feathers
New feathers not yet fully grown, whose shafts contain blood at the top.
Bloom
A mantle of gray sheen which protects the hawk’s back feathers, keeping them waterproof.
Blue hawk
A peregrine in adult plumage.
Bob
Up and down movements of the head made by longwings when especially interested in something.
Bow perch, bow-perch
A semicircular bar or piece of wood, padded in the center with rope or heavy cordage, and provided with a tethering ring. The free ends are thrust firmly into the ground. Used for shortwings and broadwings that normally perch in trees when weathering outside. Also can be mounted to a heavy flat base for use indooors.
Bow net, Bow-net, Bownet
A net trap for catching hawks. Made of a semicircular bar of light tubular aluminum or wood, over which is stretched netting. One half-loop of a circular net is folded back upon the other half when set. Either sprung automatically by springs or elastic.
Bowse, to
Drinking by a hawk. Hence bowzer, or boozer and boozing.
Brace, braces, traces
The leather straps or braces whereby a hood is loosened (to strike the hood) or tightened (to draw the hood).
Brail, brayle
A long soft leather strap with a three or four inch slit in the middle and used to restrain a wild hawk. One wing is held in the slit, and the other two ends of the brail are tied about the bird so that the other wing is free. The brail prevents bating and calms restlessness.
Brancher
(1) A young bird of prey which has leff the nest, but is still learning to fly and is fed by its parents. (2) A young raptor capable of testing its wings by hopping from branch to branch in its nesting tree, but that has not yest successfully flown. Also called a ramager.
Break in, to; break-in, to
The act of breaking through a kill’s skin- usually staring at the soft underbelly. The hawk breaks into its quarry when having caught and plumed (or plucked) it, starts to eat.
Broodling
Parental sitting on or over the young, as opposed to incubation (sitting on eggs).
Brown hawk
a British term for an immature peregrine.
Broadwinged hawks
The vernacular name for the species of Buteo or Parabuteo, the soaring hawks. Usually described as having large core wings and a short, stubby tail. Classical falconry did not use broadwinged hawks as european buteos lack the spirit to cooperatively hunt with men for quary much larger than mice. Only with the discovery of this spirit within the red-tail, ferruginous, and Harris’ hawks found in the new world, have these birds been used for falconry. American falconers are restricted to the use of the red-tail and the kestrel for apprenticeship and therefore tend to discount the red-tailed hawk as a “serious bird of prey. English falconers appreciate both the red-tail and the ferruginous hawks as extremely serious birds of prey. (Also see Buteo)
Broad-winged hawk (Buteo playtypterus)
A woodland buteo about the same size as a Cooper’s hawk and with nearly the same coloration, slightly smaller than the red-shouldered hawk. Avg. measurements: length 15” wingspread: 34” weight 401g or 14oz.
Bumblefoot
An infection in the bottom of a hawk’s foot. It is difficult and time-consuming to cure and can cripple or kill a hawk.
Buteo, buteo, buteos
(1) The Latin name for a genus of raptors. The buzzards of classic falconry, they are now sometimes termed broadwinged hawks, broadwings, or just “buteos.” the use of “broadwings” is generally accepted today. (2) Buteo is Latin for “kind of a hawk or falcon.” “Buzzard” is the proper name for these raptors. Its comes from the same latin root as buteo through old french and old english.
Buzzard
European vernaular for the buetos. When english colonists came to the new world, they used “buzzard” referring to vultures in error. This led to the ultimate confusion between hawks and buzzards. The red-tailed hawk should be called a “red-tailed buzzard,” and it is in Europe.
Cadge
(1) A portable perch used for carrying hawks in the field. From this, the common terms “codger” and “cad.” (2) A low rectangular frame, with padded edges, for carrying hooded hawks. A leg at each corner allows the cadge to stand on the ground without disturbing the perched hawks. A traveling cadge often takes the shape of a lidless box, with a perch across, in which the droppings (mutes) are caught. the cadge is carried by a cadgeman, hence “cadging a lift.”
Call, to; Call off, Calling off
(1) To attract a hawk to the trainer by voice, signal, or lure from a perch or from an assistant. (2) During training or for exercise, a falconer calls off a hawk when getting it to fly to him/her from the fist of an assistant or from a perch some distance away.
Captive breeding
As applied to falconry, the (sometimes commercial) breeding of captive birds of prey. Captive-bred raptors may be bought, sold, and transferred. Captive breeding became popular among falconers in the 1960s to produce falconry hawks of species whose numbers were in sudden decline. One result of these programs has been the release of breeding stocks of the endangered peregrine. In captive breeding parlance, F1 describes the first generation from wild-taken parents. The F2 generation’s parents were the F1. The F2 are currently considered “domestic” fowl.
Carry; to carry
(1) When a hawk flies off with the quarry it has just killed as the falconer is approaching, it is carrying (an annoying habit, not easily cured). Merlins prone to it. (2) The act of carrying a hawk on the fist to man it.
Cast, a
Two or more hawks flown together, traditionally longwings, at a difficult quarry. Flying hawks together in a cast made a kill more likely in a reasonable distance, and much of the beauty of the flgiht is in the way the hawks work together.
Cast, to
(1) To propel a hawk forward off the fist to get it airborne. (2) The act of disgorging a pellet of the undigested parts of a meal (fur, feathers, bones, etc.) (3) To hold a hawk in a cloth between the hands for imping, putting jesses on, or other stressful tasks.
Casting
An ovoid wad of indigestible feathers, fur, toes, bone, fragments, snake scales, and the like, separated from meat in the hawk’s stomach, bound together by the superfluous mucus or gleam from the stomach and regurgitated some hours after eating.
Cere
The bare, waxy area between the beak and crown of a raptor.
Check, to; to fly at check
To change from one quarry to another during flight or to hesitate because of sighting another quarry. (Also see Rake away)
Chick, cockerel
A day-old male chicken: Used by some falconers as either a supplement to the diet or as tid-bits for hawks. Chicks lack the complete nutritional value needed by hawks for good health.
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. An international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Clutch
The number of eggs laid and simultaneously incubated by a female during nesting.
Condition
Most often refers to the weight of the hawk relative to flying weight. The hawk is in high condition when fat and in low condition when too thin. In correct condition, hawk is at flying weight or “combat weight.”
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Crow-sized accipiter midway between the size of the goshawk (A. gentilis) and the European sparrowhawk (A. nisus). Found only in the new world and unknown to classical falconry. More inclined to hunt out over open fields than goshawks. Excellent falconry bird, most often taken as eyass. Avg. Measurements: males- length 15”; wingspread 29”; weight 341g/12oz. females- length 18”, wingspread 33”, weight 528g/19 oz. Weights given are natural history info of free-flying hawks and not guides for your hawk’s flying weight.
Cope, to
To trim or cut back and reshape an overgrown talon or beak.
Crab, to; crabbing
When one hawk seizes another hawk, either by mistake when with another on quarry, or on purpose when quarreling or fighting.
Creance
A light line atttached to the swivel of a partially-trained hawk before being allowed to fly free.
Crines
The short hairlike feathers about the cere.
Crop
Vasuclar sac above the breast bone where food is first stored as soon as it is swallowed. It permits storage of a large amount of food which is later digested slowly in the stomach.(Also see “Putting over the crop”) (2) The full amount of food a hawk can consume at one feeding.
Crossing flight
When some other bird flies between the hawk and the quarry being pursued.
Deck feathers
The two center and dorsal-most feathers of a hawk’s tail, or train. They come straight out in a parallel line with the backbone, whereas those to right and left can be spread out fanwise.
Desert falcon
term applied to members of the genus Falco that are cold-hardy, heat-tolerant, and found primarily in the dry land biomes.
Dho-gazza, Dho-ghazza, Dho-gaza
Square or rectangular net of various dimensions suspended vertically next to a live bird. It is secured loosely so that is drops over a hawk that atttacks the bait. A trap from the Middle East.
Dirt hawker/bagger
Slang term used to describe those who fly Harris’ hawks, usually at rabbits.
Dispersal
Unpredictable and multidirectional movements from a common point or origin. In predatory birds, dispersal occurs shortly after fledging (juvenile dispersal) or by adults after breeding (post-breeding dispersal).
Diurnal
Active during the day, as opposed to nocturnal.
Downwind
Flying with the wind.
Draw, to
(1) To draw a hawk from the mews is to take it up for the first time after it completed the moult. Comes from withdrawing a hawk from moulting quarters. (2) To draw the hood is to tighten the braces which keep the hood on, as opposed to striking the hood or loosening it.
Droppings
Normally called mutes -longwings, or slices -shortwings and broadwings, if expelled out with some vigor. If merely dropped down as of a domestic fowl, then they are droppings.
Endangered
A conservation category defined by the International Council for Bird Protection -ICPB, as including those taxa that are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the factors causing their decline continue operating. “Endangered” is defined by the U.S. Endangered Species Act as including taxa in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of their ranges based on the best available information.
Enseam, ensayne, to
The act of cleansing or purging a hawk of unwanted fat after a period of idleness and so making it ready to fly. The process of ridding the hawk of internal fat at the end of the moult. Most falconers simply diet their hawks. In old days and to a much lesser extent today, falconers fed their hawks small stones or rangle. The action of these in the stomach loosened the grease and when the stones are cast up, they are smothered in this grease.
Enter, to enter, entering
The setting up of a situation whereby a raptor in training is sure to be able to catch a kind of quarry new to it. The first time a hwak is flown at a particular quarry, it is entered to that quarry. A hawk is entered to the lure the first time it comes properly to it, after which it can be defined as made to the lure.
Eyass, eyas, eyess
(1) from the French niais=a nest, in turn from the latin nidasius=a nest, referring ot the fact that an eyass is a hawk taken from the nest: a nestling. If taken from the nest for falconry, it is always described thereafter as an eyass, as opposed to grown birds trapped during their first passage in life. Can also mean young raptors while they are still in the nest.
Eyrie, Aerie, eyry
The Hawk’s nest, or place where the eggs are laid if she has not built a proper nest.
Extender (Jess)
An “extension” of a portion of the tethering system located between the swivel and the jesses to further separate the two and help prevent tangling.
Falco
Lating name of the genus that includes the eight species of longwings in North America, The terms Falco and “falcon” are derived form the Latin falx, meaning “sickle” in reference to the falcon’s wing shape in flight or the shape of their beaks and talons.
Falcon
As a traditional falconry, term, it describes the female peregrine. Recently the term has become slang to denote any longwing, male or female, as opposed to any hawk or shortwing.
Falconry
The taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat, using trained birds of prey.
Feak, to
When a hawk cleans its beak on the perch after feeding, wiping it briskly back and forth. A sign of great confidence and well-being if a hawk will do this on your finger or glove. An ailing hawk will rarely, if ever, feak.
Feed-up, to; to be fed up
When a hawk is fed above flying weight to start moulting, in preparation to release, routine feeding at the end of the day, or some other activity.
Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis)
Largest of new world buteos. A raptor of the open plains, unknown in classical falconry, illegal to trap in CA. Avg. Measurements: length 23”, wingspread 56”, weights 1578g/56oz.
Festoon
The scalloped lower back edge of the upper mandible used to slice meat when the hawk eats its prey.
Fetch, to
When a longwing catches up to its quarry and turns it, or starts to work it, the longwing is fetching it.
Fist
Vernacular term for the falconer’s gloved and protected hand, wrist and forearm. A hawk “feeding on the fist” is eating a piece of meat held by the falconer while perched on the falconer’s gloved hand.
Fistbound
A hawk that does not hunt wild quarry because it has been spoiled by easily earned meals provided on the glove. Aka, a pet.
Flags
The secondary feathers in the wing, lying next to the primaries.
Fledge, to
The achievement of flying for the first time.
Fledgling
A young hawk that has only recently learned how to fly and is still dependednt upon its parents for food.
Flight feathers
The main feathers used in flight, the primaries and secondaries.
Flush, to
The act of causing game, quarry, or prey to bolt from cover.
Flying weight
The weight at which the hawk is healthy enough to fly and hunt, yet sufficiently hungry to respond to the falconer’s control and to any quarry that is flushed. Keen, sharp-set, combat weight.
Foot, to
(1) A hawk foots quarry when clutching it with intent to kill. A bad footer is clumsy or inaccurate with its footing. Good footer is a hawk that clutches and holds well. (2) One of several manifestations of eyass aggression toward the falconer. Eyass red-tails will occaisionally foot and bind to the falconer’s hand. Eyass Cooper’s, if taken too early, tend to attack the falconer’s face. Eyass ferruginous have been reported to attack the falconer’s face and upper body. Attacks can be predicted and prevented with experience.
Free-lofted
When the hawk is allowed free flight in the hawk-house rather than being tethered.
Fret marks/Stress marks
Usually found on the tail of a raptor, generally thought to mark a point in feather growth when there was prolonged nutritional or psychological stress.
Frounce
Canker or sore in the mouth and throat, usually seen as a colored coating on the tongue. A disease of the upper digestive tract, caused by the protozoan Trichomonas gallinae, usually contracted from eating infected pigeons and doves. Formerly the most common lethal disease afflicting trained raptors, now easily ans very quickly cured by oral administration of certain drugs.
Full-summed, fully summed
At the end of the moult, when all the feathers which are going to be renewed that year are completely grown out. There is not necessarily a complete renewal every year. Describes an intermewed raptor upon the completion of the moult. The feathers are no longer in blood.
Game
Traditionally only pheasant, partridge, and grouse are referred to as game. All other animals the hawks are released after to chase are called quarry.
Gamehawk or game hawk
Strictly speaking, the gamehawk is a longwing trained to wait-on and take game, flushed by the falconer and/or dog. “Hawking” describes all other flights at quarry, all other birds and mammals, not from a waiting-on position.
General falconer
The 2nd stage of contemporary falconry. An apprentice, 16 years or older, may advance to general with the approval of the sponsor after a minimum period of two years. General falconers may posses any of the legal falconry birds, capture eyasses, have three falconry raptors at any one time, but only two of these can be wild caught, and may sponsor apprenctices after two years’ experience as a general.
Gleam
(1) A sort of slime which a hawk sometimes throws up casting. (2) Also the slightly slimy coating of the casting.
Gorge
To allow the hawk to eat as much food as it can at a single meal.
Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
The largest accipiter. Well known to classical and modern falconry. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon words gos, for goos, and havoc, for hawk- a hawk that captures geese. “Gentilis” latin for “noble”. Avg. Measurements: males, length 19”, wingspread 39” weight 816g or 29oz. Females: length 23”, wingspread 43”, weight 1059g or 37oz.
Great-horned owl (Bubo Virginianus)
Along with barred owl, one of two owls legal for falconry in California. Avg. Measurements: 18”-25”, wingspread up to 60”, weight: males 1318g/46.5oz, females 1769g/62.5oz.
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
An extremely popular bird in modern falconry. They are well known for chasing their quarry long distances and a disinclination to wait-on. Avg. Measurements: males- length 20”, wingspread 45”, weights 1135g/40oz. Females- length 23”, wingspread 50”, weight 1700g/60oz. Pronounced “jer-fal-ken” or “jeer (rhymes with cheer)-falcon.
Hack (wild hack)
Flying at hack is the practice of allowing young birds (usually only longwings) to fly freely about, sometimes for as long as 6-7 weeks, after they have been taken from the nest and before their training or reclaiming starts. Hack-bells are especially large bells they often wear, designed to prevent them making a kill on their own account when at hack. The falconer provides food tied to a hack-board, at a specific time and place every day. Eventually the hawk kills for itself and doesn’t return to hack-board. This is signal that hawk has learned to hunt on own. Next time the hawk shows to meal, falconer takes it up. (See “tame hack”)
Haggard
A wild hawk in mature plumage, caught after having moulted at least once, thus being more than a full year old. No haggard of any species may be taken for falcontry in the U.S. except for kestrels and great horned owls (but it’s still frowned upon as pulling from breeding stock).
Halsband
German for “neck-band” a soft cord usually of twisted silk or leather, put around a hawk’s neck to steady her when being launched from the hand at quarry, (or for attaching a bell, or both).
Hard-penned, hard-down
When the feathers of a newbordn hawk are fully grown and the shafts have hardened off to a quill.
Harris’ hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) also Bay-winged hawk, Louisiana hawk
A raptor new to falconry, unknown to classic falconry. Bird size of male-red-tail, only recently recognized for potential for falconry as a responsive, excellent bird. Northern limit of range Louisiana, Arizona and Texas. Avg. Measurements: length 20”, wingspread 43”, weight 890g/32oz.
Hawk
Strictly speaking, a hawk is a member of the genus Accipiter or shortwing raptor, rather than members of genus Falco-the longwings and members of genus Buteo, the buzzards/broadwing raptors. In falconry, the word is often used to cover shortwings, broadwings and longwings, and hawking is done with all of them.
Hawk-house
Place where a hawk is normally kept, as opposed to the mews, which strictly speaking, is the place where the hawk is put to moult they may well be the same place.
Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
A European longwing somewhat larger than the merlin, smaller than the peregrine or prairie falcon. Predictably migratory to Africa below the equator. There is no comparable North American longwing.
Hood
Of several different designs, Anglo-Indian (often shortened incorrectly to “Indian”), Dutch, rufter or a combination of these patterns. The hood serves to shut off the flow of visual information to the hawk’s brain. Since much of the hawk’s brain is tied to vision, the hood serves to calm it down and prevents undue anxiety.
Hood block
The block of wood or other material on which some types of hoods are blocked or molded to shape them or store them.
Hood-shy
When a hawk dodges about and tries to avoid being hooded, it is hoodshy. Hooding a hawk is an art and some well-coached novices learn it quickly. Practicing on a non-hood-shy bird is the best way to learn skillful hooding. Uncoached apprentice learning on a wild, freshly taken bird may result in a hood-shy hawk.
“HOO-HA-HA”
Traditional cry of the falconer to ensure falcon’s attention on quarry you’ve served/put up. Also “Hi-hi-hi!” “Ho-ho-ho!”
Hover
A form of flapping flight during which the bird remains nearly stationary. Kestrels and kites are well known for this maneuver. Red-tails can do it too, called “stilling.”
Hunger-trace, fret-marks
Blemishes or weakening imperfections which appear like light fraying cuts across the web of growing feathers from temporary starvation (as little as 24 hours) or incorrect feeding, severe nervous stress, in eyass newly taken, or any hawk in the moult. Feathers may bend or break on hunger trace. Usually found on the tail/train.
Hybrid
Crossbred hawk or falcon with parentage from at least 2 different species. Hybrid allows best of both worlds. ie: gyrfalcon x peregrine= midway between parent sizes, speed of gyrfalcon and inclination to wait-on, as with the peregrine. Law- Hybrids must be sterilized or imprinted to prevent from reproducing in wild, in case of escape. Cannot be intentionally released. While hunting, hybrids must wear two functioning radio transmitters.
CBP
International Council for Bird Protection- defining body for terms Endangered, Threatened and Rare.
Imp; imping; to imp
To mend broken damaged feathers, usually by joining the old with a new piece by using “imping needles”, small bits of steel wire, triangular in cross section, pushed up the quills to affect a joint. To cut broken or damaged feather and replace with an undamaged feather.
Imprinting
(1) A process, usually begun in early life (some species immediately after hatching) of birds by which they identify themselves. First tried by Konrad Lorenz to precocial young- hatchlings that are able to quickly walk and feed themselves) of ducks and geese. Hatchling imprints to and recognizes as “parent” the first thing larger than themselves that moves. Term broadened to include similar processes which happen later in life. (2) Occurs when a raptor is human raised. Causes screaming, begging food from recognized parent. Lack of fear of humans, with aggression toward falconer. Human imprinting behavior is well known and to be avoided. “Imprint” means a raptor that is hand-raised in isolation from other raptors for 10-14 days of age, up until fledged. Considered imprinted for entire life.
Intermewed
A hawk that has moulted (mewed) in captivity. One that has moulted wild is a haggard. Literally “interval in mews,” referring to the period from vernal to autumnal equinoxes (3/21-9/21), when a trained raptor is confined within a building to moult old and grown new plumage. Hawk which has been moulted in captivity, whether molted in “mews” or not.
Jack
Male merlin.
Jerkin
Male gyrfalcon.
Jesses
Leather straps fasted to a trained hawk’s legs, for the falconer to hold the hawk, or to secure it. Almeri and Traditional jesses.
Jump-up
An exercise where the hawk flies upward at steep angle from perch, or softened platform, to falconer’s upraised hand, then back down, in expectation of reward. Once behavior is established, reward frequency varied until hawk does jump-up for expectation of reward, rather than reward itself. Great for developing flight muscles.
Keen
When a hawk responds with enthusiasm, it is said to be keen.
Kestrel, Eurasian (Falco tinnunculus)
In U.S., called European or Eurasian kestrel. Same weight as merlin, but with somewhat larger wings and tail. Kestrel of classical falconry, being 25% heavier than American kestrel (F. sparverius), avg. measurements: length 14.5”, wingspread 27”.
Kestrel, American (Falco sparverius)
Formerly known as American sparrowhawk. Smallest longwing in U.S., is legal for falconry by apprentices, Sparverius is Latin for “pertaining to a sparrow,” from hawk’s first name, sparrowhawk. Kestrel is old english name for Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Avg. measurements: males- length 9”, wingspread 21”, weight 109g/3.8oz. females- length 10”, wingspread 22”, weight 123g/4.3oz.
Kite, White-tailed (Elanus leucurus)
A whitish, medium-sized raptor w/ a falcon-like wing-shape, slightly smaller and much lighter in weight then prairie falcon. Coloration and flight much like gull. Small size difference in sexes. Avg. measurements, male- weight 315g/11.2oz, female- 350g/12.3oz, m/f length 15”, wingspread 39”. Hunt from hover or exposed perches. Prey primarily small rodents. Aka European name “black-shouldered kite.”
Lanner (Falco biarmicus)
Habitat is dry, inland mountains of Africa. Rare in Europe. Prey is mostly avian in Europe and groud dwelling animals in Africa. Male is “lanneret.”
Lanneret
Male Lanner falcon.
Leash
Traditional leather thong, at least 3’ long, for securing hawk’s jesses via swivel, to block or perch. Nylon and kernmantle-type rope are modern reliable versions, resistant to damage from rain, talons, mutes and food decay. Leather prone to sudden failure, and losing hawk.
Longwing
Vernacular term used for all Falconidae which have long, pointed wings and dark eyes.
Luggar (Falco jugger)
A large longwing native to India. In some older literature, it was thought to be the Indian name for the saker. The male is the luggaret.
Luggaret
Male Luggar falcon.
Lure
(1) The object a falconer whirls around head to attract a trained hawk that is flying free. It may be a dead bird or a pad with feathers attached like wings and garnished with meat. To lure a hawk is to bring it up to the lur, if a long way off, or down to the lure if the hawk is waiting-on, ready to come down at once. (2) A realistic imitation bird or animal used to provide a reusable training quarry to teach young hawks how to strike, bind and foot quarry.
Lurebound
The longwing equivalent of fistbound. A longwing that will not hunt, but is excellent to the lure.
Made to
A hawk is made to the hood, made to the lure, made to the fist, etc. It means it is thoroughly trained to be hooded without difficulty, or will fly readily to the lure or the fist. When completely trained in all necessary ways, then the hawk is made.
Make-hawk
A thoroughly-trained hawk which is put up to fly with an eyass or young or untrained hawk, to help by example. Also useful in cases where a hawk lacks courage for some particular quarry, and a hawk already entered to that quarry gives fresh encouragement.
Make in to
The act of slowly and carefully approaching a hawk when on its quarry on the ground so the hawk can be taken up.
Make point, to
The act of a hawk swooping up directly above the spot where it has put in its quarry in some form of cover.
to Man, Manning
Getting the hawk thoroughly accustomed to the sight and presence of people, animals and things of all sorts, so that the hawk is at ease in any company. Also, reclaim.
Mantle, to
(1) When a hawk leisurely stretches one wing over its outstretched leg on the same side and the train (tail) as well. (2) when a hawk crouches over food or quarry with wings and tail spread out all over it, to hide it from view or to discourage interference. A well-mannered hawk will not do this: it usually signifies jealousy or greed.
Mark, to keep at; to fly at mark
When a hawk marks the spot where it has put in quarry, either by flying round above it or by taking stand (perching) close by until someone comes to chase it out.
Master falconer
With five years experience as a general falconer, a falconer may advance to master level. Master falconers may posses five of the legal falconry birds taken from the wild, an unlimited number of captive-bred raptors, and may posses eagles.
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
A kestrel-sized, but heavier longwing that is legal for falconry use by general and master falconers. Avg. measurements: male, length 10”, wingspread 22”, weight 155g/5.5oz. Females, length 11”, wingspread 25”, weight 210g/7.4oz.
Mews
The place in which a hawk is put down to moult. Now generally used in falconry to mean any building where a hawk is kept at night or in bad weather. Hawk-house.
Morph
A vernacular term referring to an example of one of the recognized types of di- or polymorphism in an organism. Most frequently used to refer to the lightness or darkness of plumage such as a “dark morph” or “melanistic morph” or even a “light morph” and “albinistic morph” phase.
Moult
The annual shedding and replacement of feathers. Besides kestrels and eagles, raptors shed their juvenile feathers for adult plumage at about one year of age. Kestrels moult during first year, eagles annually through a series of juvenile/adolescent plumages until mature at 4-5 years old. Moulting requires greater food value and energy to grow feathers, so many falconers up up their hawks till hard-penned.
Musket
Male European sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Mutes
Droppings or excrement of a hawk: longwings mute, shortwings and broadwings slice. Result in either case is called mutes.
Nares
Nostrils of a hawk.
Nestling
Young bird still in the nest. A hawk is called an eyass on removal form the nest.
Operant conditioning
Training method during which the hawk is not rewarded every time it comes to the falconer, preventing overfeeding. For “jumping-up”, hawk encouraged to jump to the fist heald at arms-length overhead for a hidden tidbit. Results in well-conditioned hawk.
Pannel
Stomach of a hawk.
Passage hawk, passager
Wild hawk less than a year old, captured when migrating or following the passage of migratory prey. Always trapped in immature plumage. Always called passager even after intermewing and in adult plumage.
Passerine
Referring to birds that perch in trees including blackbirds, buntings, chickadees, crows, finches, flycatchers, gnatcatchers, grosbeaks, jays, larks, orioles, pipits, ravens, shrikes, sparrows, starlings, swallows, tanagers, thrushes, titmice, vireos, waxwings, wrens, and warblers. Protected species cannot be hunted, but non-native, introduced, or invasive species are exceptions (may include starlings, english house sparrows, crows, etc.)
Perch
Anything upon which a hawk is set down, apart from the block. A longwing has the perch at night and the block by day.
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
Premier raptor of falconry. Subspecies adapted to every continent and climate except Antarctica. Peregrinus in Latin means “wandering”, for hawks long distance migrations. Avg. measurements: male tundra, length 15”, wingspread 38”, weight 581g/21oz. female tundra, length 17”, wingspread 44”, weight 817g/29oz. 22 named variations of peregrine, some larger and smaller than given data.
Pick-up piece
The piece of meat held in the gloved hand, used to cover the meat on the lure to entice the hawk from the lure or quarry onto the fist. Tidbit. Step-off.
Pigeon harness
A harness trap festooned with fishing line nooses that fits a pigeon like a vest. Extremely effective and only occaisionally harmful for the pigeon.
Pitch
Height at which a longwing waits on above the falconer or dog. The pitch of a good longwing sometimes exceeds 1,000 feet.
Pitch, to
Landing on a perch point.
Plumage
Collective term for the feathers of a hawk.
Plume
The tuft on top of a hawk’s hood. Merlin hoods once featured the claws of its first kill.
Plume, to; pluck, to
When a hawk strips the feathers off quarry or whatever bird is given by way of food.
Pounces
Talons or claws of a raptor.
Post-fledgling period
The period between first flight and complete independence of the juveniles. AKA “post-fledgling depenedency period.”
Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus)
An open country, dry land raptor, legal for use by general and master falconers. Avg. measurements: males, length 15”, wingspread 37”, weight 524g/19oz. Females, length 17”, wingspread 43”, weight 848g/30oz.
Preen, to
When hawk straightens and smooths out its feathers, oiling and dressing them and generally putting them in order. Sign of health and happiness in captive bird.
Prey
Creatures caught by wild raptors. “Quarry” specifies prey of raptors used in falconry. “Game” refers only to pheasant, partridge, and grouse.
Primaries
Longest wing feathers, ten outermost in each wing. In longwings, second feather is longest. Shortwings and broadwings the 4th primary is longest, or sometimes equal to the 3rd. The secondary feathers are the “flags” The longest feathers are called “principals.”
Pull through the hood, to
When a hawk feeds while wearing the hood.
Put in, to
A hawk, driving quarry to take cover, puts it in. Also, a quarry putting in to cover.
Put out
To serve quarry to your hawk.
Put over, to
Emptying the crop into the digestive system, an action performed with a back-and-forth motion of the body, and particularly with the neck.
Put up, to
(1) The act of casting off a longwing to wait-on. (2) Used by modern falconers to describe keeping the hawk at a higher weight and therefore non-flying for the duration of the moult.
Quarry
Falconry term describing the prey at which a hawk is flow by a falconer. “Prey” refers to creatures hunted by wild raptors. “Game” is only pheasant, partridge, and grouse.
Rake, to
The act of a hawk striking its quarry, without binding to it.
Rake away, to
When a hawk leaves whatever it is supposed to be flying at and goes on its own. If it goes after some quarry of it’s own volition, its “flying at check.” If it veres off for no reason, like when waiting-on, it “rakes away.” Also can be longwing flying away, low and wide, without mounting to its accustomed pitch.
Ramage hawk, ramager
A young wild hawk that has just left the nest. A “Brancher”.
Rangle
Small stones given to hawks to aid digestion. Hawk may eat them on their own. Stones come up with the casting, coated with indigestible grease from the stomach.
Rare
Conservation category by ICPB for taxa with small world populations, but are not curently considered endangered.
Reclaim, to
(1) To man a hawk or to retain a hawk that has been idle for a period, such as the moult. (2) The whole process of taming and training a hawk. Manning applies solely to getting the hawk accustomed to people and things.
Red hawk
British term applied only to a peregrine before the russet or reddish-colored immature first year plumage.
Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Somewhat unknown quantity in falconry. Avg. measurements: m/f wingspan 35-50”; male, length 19”, weight 550g/19.5oz. Female, length 22”, weight 700g/24oz.
Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Most common apprentice hawk. Large and robust, wide variations in color morphology, size and personality. Avg. measurements: males, length 19”, wingspread 45”, weight 1028g/36oz. Females, length 22”, wingspread 48”, weight 1224g/43oz.
Ring-perch
A circular padded perch, modern version of bow-perch. Upright hoop that has purching surface attached around it’s apex. Center of hoop has cross pieces in place to keep the hawk from passing through. Tethering tied to rings, either on base spike or bottom corner of the hoop. Advanced designs feature a rotating hoop to help prevent tangling of the leash.
Refuse, to
When a hawk will not fly at the quarry at which is supposed to fly.
Ring up, to; ringing flight
(1) to rise up in a spiral, perhaps around quarry. “Tower.” (2) Spiral upward flight of a longwing taking a pitch.
Rock peregrine (Falco peregrinus anatum)
Name for the original eastern anatum Peregrine falcon, which became extinct during the 20th century.
Rouse, to
When a hawk stands all its feathers on end at once and gives them a rattling shake. A sign of well being.
Saint Bavon of Valkenswaard and Saint Hubert
the patron saints of falconers.
Sails
The group of large wing feathers on a raptor.
Saker (Falco cherrug)
Long considered to be a Middle Eastern longwing, rather like a large peregrine, it in fact breeds in northern and eastern Europe across to China, passing through the Middle East during migration. The male is called a sakeret. The gyrfalcon is considered to be a northern-climate variant of the saker, but is a decidely larger bird and slightly different in build. Saker is seen in open steppe and cultivated country with wooded elements or stands of trees. Often perched on telephone poles, feeds on rodents and birds.
Sakeret
Male Saker falcon.
Screen perch
A long, horizontal perch from which is hung a coarse fabric weighted at the bottom, like a screen, to enable a hawk to get back easily onto the perch on the side it fell, after bating off. Without, hawk might hang, unable to get back on perch.
Screamer
(1) An eyass which develops the nerve-wracking habit of incessant screaming, sometimes due to being taken too young from the nest. May phase out if falconer can bear to wait it out. (2) Screamers were more common before imprinting was understood, with the eyass begging for food from the creature it identified as its food source. Human behaviors that cause this are well known, and can be avoided.
Secondaries
Flight feathers of the wing, between the body and the primaries.
Seel, to; Seeling
The practice of temporarily closing the eyes of a newly taken raptor during early manning by very carefully passing thread through the lower eyelid and over the crown of the head.
Self-hunting
When a hawk strays in search of prey. Also refers to a hawk at hack, when they start hunting on their own.
Serve, to
Flushing the quarry for a waiting hawk, to serve it with quarry to chase.
Set down to moult, put up to moult
To put raptor into the mews for moulting.
Shaheen (Falco pelegrinoides babylonicus)
The red-naped shaheen is considered by some an isolated subspecies of Barbary falcon (and in turn by some as a subspecies of the peregrine). Other experts consider the red-naped shaheen as its own species, Falco babylonicus. Found in Middle East and replaces the peregine in desert climates. Black shaheen is peregrine subspecies (F. peregrinus peregrinator) and is native to India.
Shaft
The central hollow strut of a feather, giving it support.
Sharp-set
Ready for food and the hunt. Cannot expect hawk to fly at prey unless it’s sharp-set. Used for longwings when they are keen and in hunting condition.
Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
“Sharpie”, smallest accipiter, only for general and master falconers. Name refers to raised ridge on inside front of the tarsus. Avg. measurements: males- Length 10”, wingspread 21”, weight 101g/3.6oz. Females- length 12”, wingspread 25”, weight 177g/6oz.
Shock marks
Hunger-traces, often on tail/train, caused by periods of starvation, illness, or psychological distress.
Short-winged hawk
Vernacular term for a hawk of genus Accipiter.
Sky up, to
When a flock of birds take to the air in a flurry to escape an accipiter, it is said to “sky up.”
Slicing
The way shortwings and broadwings squirt out mutes with force. Can travel several feet.
Slip
A chance at quarry. The cottontail running out of underbrush is a slip.
A slip
A flight at quarry. Hawk coming down out of tree on ground quarry is a slip.
Slip, to
To release a hawk in pursuit of quarry. The release of your hawk’s jesses for it to chase a cottontail is a slip.
Soar, to; soaring
(1) To rise up on air currents like an eagle, without needing to beat the wings. Almost any hawk might do this without warning, if the conditions are right. (2) When a hawk takes to the air and enjoys flying or gliding on thermals/air currents, and not flying at quarry.
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Sparrowhawk of classical falconry. Sized between Cooper’s hawk and Sharpie. Avg measurements: male- length 15”, wingspread 24”, weight 150g/5.3oz. Female- length 15”, wingspread 30”, weight 290g/10.2oz. Known in the americas as European sparrowhawk.
Step off
a hawk giving up its prey for a tid-bit, allowing the falconer to hide the quary and control the hawk’s eating. Getting hawk to step off is a skill to master to control hawks in the field.
Stoop
Term describing a steep dive toward prey from a pitch.
Strike a hood, to
To loosen a hood by the braces at the back, making it ready to be taken off instantly the moment the hawk is meant to fly.
Swivel
The device that links a hawk’s jesses to its leash, enabling it to move freely on the block or perch without getting tangled up in the jesses. It features two rings, connected in a figure-eight fashion with a bolt or rivet.
Take the air, to
The act of mounting up into the sky.
Take down, to
The act of bringing a longwing back to the lure.
Take up, to; taken-up
(1) To recover a lost hawk. (2) The act of capturing a hawk from hack. (3) The act of “capturing” a captive-bred eyass in preparation for falconry. (4) The act of removing an intermewed hawk from the moult for reclaiming.
Take stand, to
To perch in a tree.
Tame hack
The process of hacking for imprints when the falconer is in attendance and says in the general vicinity of the raptors being hacked for the duration of the hacking period. The hawks are taken-up each evening and released the following morning.
Talons
The sharply pointed and curved claws of a raptorial bird.
Tarsus
The leg of a hawk between food and hock.
Taxonomy
The science, laws, or principles of classification, especially of organisms in categories based on common characteristics.
Telemetry
Contemporary method of radio location of falconry raptors.
Territory
A definable area having resources that are consistently controlled or defended by an individual against others of its own species, or less often, against individuals of other species, at least for some part of the year.
Territoriality
The advertisement and aggressive behavior associated with territorial establishment and defense.
Tethering system
This refers to the leash plus related parts of jesses, swivel, and extender that together comprise the means by which a hawk is tethered and kept tangle free.
Terceleto
The male Aplomado Falcon flown in falconry.
Threatened
A conservation category of federal U.S. and Canadian wildlife agencies for designating those taxa that are not yet believed to be endangered, but whose known numbers place them at risk of falling into that category.
Throw off, to
To cast off a hawk from the fist.
Throw-up, to
To rise steeply on outstretched wings after missing a stoop or the hawk changing its mind.
Tidbit
A small piece of meat or quarry used to control the hawk in the field. With a tidbit, the falconer can call the hawk to him. With the proper tidbit, the falconer can get the hawk to leave or step-off its kill.
Tiercel, tercel, tassel, tassell
The male peregrine. From the French tierce, meaning third. Refers to the male, as opposed to the falcon, which describes the female, from the fact that the male is usually about a third smaller than the female. Often incorrectly used to refer to any male hawk, as in “tiercel red-tail.” A male red-tail is a “male red-tail.”
Tiring, Tyring
A tough piece of meat or a wing of pigeon or such like, given to a hawk in training while on the block or perch with which it can amuse and exercise in order to prolong the meal and work the muscles of the back and neck. Useful for bringing up an overdue casting. Also very useful in manning to keep the hawk occupied on the fist while being carried about. Also, it prevents the hawk from becoming bored or unduly nervous.
Tooth
The notch in the end of the upper beak of a longwing. This tooth is quickly worked between the vertebrae of quarry to sever the spinal cord ending in a quick death.
Tower, to
When a hawk rings up into the air vertically.
Traditional jesses
An earlier method of jessing a raptor with a single strap of leather. Traditional jesses have a well-known disadvantage. If the hawk escapes, it has long dangling traps permanently attached to its legs, making it vulnerable to being trapped by the swivel slits catching on obstacles.
Train
(1) A hawk’s tail. See deck feathers, the two middle feathers of the train. (2) The live bird or animal which used to be given to a hawk when entering to that particular type of quarry. Dead quarry now serves the same purpose. (See also “bagged quarry)
Truss, to
To seize a quarry in the air and fly on with it. (See also to bind and to carry)
Unreclaimed
A hawk still wild.
Unsummed
Before a hawk’s feathers are fully replaced during the moult.
Upland game birds
Any of the ground dwelling birds such as grouse, pheasant, prairie chicken, chukar, quail, partridge and the like. Generally refers to birds of the Galliformes.
Upwind
Into the wind.
Waiting-on
The action of a longwing circling round above the falconer waiting for him/her to serve quarry to give the hawk something to fly at. (See also pitch)
Wake, watching
One of the traditional methods of manning a wild-caught hawk. Sitting up all night with a newly-taken hawk to prevent it from sleeping, perhaps for two or even three nights running, as part of the process of taming or reclaiming the hawk without daunting its spirit or setting it against the falconer. The hawk is kept awake the whole time.
Warble, to; Warbling
To stretch both wings upwards over the back till they nearly touch and, at the same time, spread the tail.
Weather
To place a hawk outdoors so that it is exposed to fresh air, sun, and also people and animals. Hawks are said to be weathering when out on their blocks or perches in the open air.
Weathering ground, weathering area
The area where the hawks are kept on perches to weather. The area must meet standards of protection and comfort for the hawk.
Webbing
The soft strands on each side of the feather shaft.
Wedded to [a quarry]
When a hawk prefers one type of quarry.
Wind up, to
A method of capturing an escaped hawk which although too wild to be taken up normally, does not mind the falconer being within about thirty yards. The hawk’s legs are entangled in a thin line by the falconer walking round and round as it eats food placed out for it.
Wing loading
This term refers to the ammount of drag placed on the wings by the weight and speed of a raptor. The direct formula would divide the weight of the raptor by the number of square inches in the wings. A heavy hawk flying at a slow speed has a greater wing loading than the same one flying at a faster speed. Some raptors have larger wings relative to their body weights and they seem quite bouyant in flight, giving them a light wing loading. The amount of weight carried by the wings of a particular hawk.
Yarak, to be in
An Eastern word, applied only to a shortwing, meaning that the hawk is in flying order, ready for quarry.
