Falconry is the art of hunting with trained birds of prey. It has a long and storied history, with evidence of falconry dating back over 4000 years to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. While many different birds of prey can be used for falconry, there are a few key species that stand out as excellent choices for beginning and experienced falconers alike.
When determining the best raptor for falconry, several factors need to be considered: the raptor’s temperament, its size and power, the game it’s best suited to hunt, how easy the species is to train, and its availability. The most common falconry birds are falcons, accipiters, and some buteos and eagles. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses that make them more or less appropriate for different situations.
Here is an overview of the best birds of prey for falconry and what makes them good choices:
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is arguably the best all-around bird of prey for getting started in falconry in North America. Here’s why the “redtail” is an excellent bird for beginners:
– Temperament: Red-tails tend to have a very even, patient disposition that makes them easier to train and handle compared to some other raptors. They are eager to work with their handler.
– Size: Red-tailed hawks are medium-large birds weighing 2-4 pounds. This gives them the strength to handle larger prey while not being overly difficult for beginners to manage like a large eagle would be.
– Prey: Redtails are versatile hunters, capable of taking a wide variety of small game from rabbits to ducks, squirrels, and upland game birds. This allows lots of hunting opportunities.
– Availability: Red-tailed hawks are common and widespread throughout North America, making them fairly easy to find and legally obtain for falconry.
– Trainability: They are intelligent and generally very receptive to training. With proper technique and patience, redtails can learn quickly.
– Hardiness: Tough and resilient to weather and most injuries or ailments. Can adapt to a variety of climates and habitats.
For all these reasons, red-tailed hawks make the perfect entry point into the challenging but rewarding world of falconry. Once a general familiarity with falconry has been achieved, many falconers then often move on to more challenging birds.
Harris’s Hawk
The Harris’s hawk is another excellent raptor for new falconers to consider, especially for those based in North America where they are native. Here’s an overview of why Harris’s hawks can make fantastic falconry birds:
– Temperament: Harris’s hawks tend to have a very social, eager-to-please personality. They quickly form strong bonds with their handler that facilitates training.
– Size: Harris’s hawks are medium sized, averaging 2-3 pounds. Strong enough to hunt substantial prey, but not overly difficult for a beginner to control.
– Prey: Capable hunters of small-to-medium game like rabbits, squirrels, birds, etc. Their social nature also allows them to be worked in groups to pursue larger game.
– Availability: Native to the desert southwest United States and common as a falconry bird, so fairly easy to find and legally obtain.
– Trainability: Highly intelligent and social, they take very well to training and positive reinforcement from a falconer. Often eager to learn.
– Versatility: Excellent in a wide range of habitats from deserts to forests and wetlands. Their social tendencies also make them great for dog/hawk hunting partnerships.
For these reasons, Harris’s hawks are an outstanding raptor for the beginner falconer looking for a solid first hunting partner.
Peregrine Falcon
The peregrine falcon is considered by many expert falconers to be the ultimate bird of prey for the sport. Here’s an overview of what makes them such prized falconry birds:
– Speed: Peregrines are the fastest animal on earth when in a stoop or dive. They can reach speeds over 240 mph hunting aerial prey. This allows them to take fast-flying birds with ease.
– Power: Strong, muscular birds that can tackle prey much larger than themselves including ducks, pheasants, and even large rock pigeons.
– Eagerness: Peregrines love to fly and hunt, and derive excitement and satisfaction from capturing their own food in dramatic aerial stoops.
– Trainability: Intelligent and mentally engaged with training, but often have an independent streak requiring patience and skill from the falconer.
– Versatility: Effective hunters in open habitats ranging from coastlines to wetlands, parks, and countryside where they can get up to top speed.
– Difficulty: Considered advanced birds that are not typically recommended for beginners due to their energy levels, flying prowess, and potential aggression.
The peregrine falcon offers the ultimate challenge and reward for dedicated falconers willing to put in the time and effort with these magnificent birds of prey.
Gyrfalcon
The gyrfalcon is the largest and most powerful falcon species, making it highly prized by experienced falconers:
– Size: Weighing up to 4.5 pounds, gyrfalcons are capable of taking the largest prey of any falcon, including waterfowl, cranes, and more.
– Strength: With their heavy bodies and muscular wings, gyrfalcons hit aerial prey with devastating force and can subdue large animals on the ground.
– Cold weather: Gyrfalcons originate from Arctic and subarctic regions and are well equipped to withstand cold weather falconry.
– Status: The most highly desired bird in historic medieval falconry, a status they still hold today among dedicated enthusiasts.
– Training: Intelligent but temperamental raptors requiring great experience, commitment and patience from a handler. They are not considered birds for beginners.
– Availability: Due to tight legal restrictions on their capture and import, gyrfalcons can be difficult birds to obtain for falconry.
For experienced falconers up to the supreme challenge, the powerful gyrfalcon represents the ultimate hunting partner and crowning achievement in falconry.
Northern Goshawk
The northern goshawk is a fierce accipiter hawk that has a cult following among falconers:
– Fierceness: Goshawks have a reputation as being highly aggressive birds more prone to boldly facing dangers and tackling large prey.
– Size: Weighing 2-4 pounds, they can take down substantial animals including rabbits, squirrels, ducks, and geese.
– Speed: In wooded habitats, goshawks are among the quickest hawks in short bursts necessary for dodging trees and capturing prey.
– Training: Difficult to fully train and never considered tame or entirely trustworthy. Need constant handling to maintain a strong bond and control.
– Prey: Favored prey are forest-dwelling animals like squirrels, grouse, and rabbits that match their wooded habitats.
– Availability: Somewhat uncommon in North America compared to other popular falconry birds but numbers are increasing.
The northern goshawk presents falconers with a challenging bird that demands complete dedication. But for some, that difficulty is part of their great appeal.
Golden Eagle
The “king” of birds, golden eagles represent the ultimate prize for elite falconers:
– Size: As 10+ pound birds, goldens can tackle prey up to their own size like foxes, deer, and coyotes. No other raptor can match this.
– Status: Long prized as the top bird for royal falconry, a tradition that continues today. Owning and flying a golden represents the peak of falconry prestige.
– Training: Extremely difficult to train and fly successfully at quarry. Require expert handling and facilities.
– Rarity: Due to their remote habitats and the expertise required to fly eagles, few falconers ever get the opportunity to handle goldens.
– Regulations: Tight legal restrictions on capture and handling of eagles further limits their availability for falconry use.
Flying a golden eagle is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement that only the most dedicated and experienced falconers will have the privilege of experiencing. For those elite few, it represents the pinnacle of the ancient art of falconry.
Conclusion
To summarize, some of the best birds of prey for beginner falconers are the red-tailed hawk for its versatility, easy availability, and good temperament, and the Harris’s hawk for similar reasons. The peregrine falcon offers unmatched aerial hunting skills for the more advanced falconer. At the upper end of the spectrum, elite falconers may graduate to prized birds like the gyrfalcon or golden eagle after years of dedicated experience and training.
While not always easy or practical for everyone, training birds of prey for falconry opens the door to an amazing connection with raptors and unique partnership in the hunting field. With proper commitment, training, and facilities, falconry can provide incredible rewards. For those drawn to experience it, choosing the ideal raptor species to match your skill level and objectives is the critical first step.
