Falconry

birds of prey · hunting · ancient skills · amazing animals

Trained hunters. A falconer trains a bird of prey like a falcon or hawk to hunt wild animals such as rabbits and squirrels. The bird learns to follow commands and return to its trainer.

Two different roles. A falconer specifically flies falcons, while an austringer trains Eurasian goshawks and other accipiters. These are two traditional types of hunters who use different birds.

Popular hunting birds. Today, falconers often use red-tailed hawks, Harris's hawks, and peregrine falcons because they're skilled hunters and work well with people. These birds are fast, smart, and excellent at catching prey.

Old and new names. Falconry is also called hawking or gamehawking, though the word hawker now usually means a street trader. Modern falconers keep the traditional names alive to describe their special hunting practice.