Raptors Used in Falconry
There are many raptors used in falconry and none of them are exactly the same. They all have pros and cons. The sub-menu for Raptors will have a page describing the normally used falconry birds. Although others do exist and get used occasionally as well, this covers the most commonly seen. Below this entry you'll find a few bird specific websites as well as a broad overview summary of the raptor family comparison (ignoring owls).
Comparison of Selected Traits Between the Order Accipitridae and the Order Falconidae – California Hawking Club
| Trait/Characteristic | Accipitridae (accipiters, buteos, eagles) |
Falconidae (longwings) |
|---|---|---|
| Beak | naked cere, no bone in nostril, rarely toothed, upper and lower beak smooth | cere often has bristles, bony tuberical in nostril, upper and lower beak often toothed and notched |
| Eye color | typically varies with age | permanent dark is typical |
| Primary moult (falconry number system) |
from #10 forward | from #6 inwards then outwards |
| Nesting site | typical in trees, cliffs or on ground, build their own | typical in cavities, or recesses, or on ledges, rarely on ground or in trees, never build their own nest |
| Fratricide | common | rare |
| Defecation | forceful ejection over the side of the nest (slice) | directly over the edge |
| Juvenile plumage | typical streaked on body | rarely streaked body (peregrine being the exception) |
| Apprentice level bird | red-tailed hawk | kestrel |
| Falconry birds | red-tailed hawk ferruginous hawk sharp-shinned hawk cooper's hawk goshawk harris' hawk inter-species hybrid |
kestrel merlin prairie falcon peregrine gyrfalcon inter-species hybrid |