Glossary

A Glossary of Falconry Terms

AUSTRINGER - a falconer that trains a Shortwing or Broadwing hawk.

AYLMERI - a modern way of fitting Jesses

BATE - when a hawk jumps and tries to fly off the falconer's glove or a perch.

BLOOD (in blood) new growing feathers, blood can be seen in the transparent shaft

BEWIT- small leather straps used to attach bells or transmitters to a hawk's leg

BLOCK - traditionally a perch for a longwing

BOW - (perch) traditionally a perch for short and broad wings

BRANCHER - a young hawk starting leave the nest

BROADWING - a raptor of the genus Buteo or Parabuteo.

CARRY- when a hawk tries to fly away from the falconer with it's food.

CAST - a) to restrain a hawk , b) when a hawk regurgitates a pellet, c) several hawks flown together d) when a hawk is propelled off the fist

COPE - filing-down a hawk's overgrown beak and/or talons to sharpness.

CREANCE - a light line used to train a hawk.

DUMMY BUNNY -training aid for broadwings

ENTER - The first time a hawk catches the intended quarry.

EYASS - a) a young raptor on the nest and b) a raptor acquired from a nest. ( please note that this is ileagle in the UK)

FALCON - female perigrine but used also to discribe other female longwings

FOLLOW ON - when a hawk follows it trainer from tree to tree in the pursuit of quarry

FOOT- (footy) when a hawk tries to grab the falconer or glove with its talons .

GAUNTLET- leather glove worn by the falconer.

GIANT HOOD- a ventilated box used to transported hawks.

HACK- : a) the process of preparing a hawk for release to the wild and b) the process of releasing and re-trapping a hawk to allow it to gain wild hunting skills.

HAGGARD- a wild hawk in it's second year or more of plumage (adult).

HARD-PENNED- when all of a hawks feather's have grown down

HOOD- the leather covering placed over a hawks head to help keep it calm and reduce stress.

IMP - repairing a broken feather with another feather from the same or a different hawk.

IMPRINT- a hawk raised by people that ceases to identify with hawks of its own species.

INTERMEWED- a hawk kept through a complete moult.

JESSES- the leg straps used to hold a hawk.

LEASH - a lenghth of rope or leather fo tying a hawk to the glove

LONGWING - a raptor of the Falco genus.

LURE - training aid (mostly) for long wings

MAKE-IN - the act of approaching a hawk that has caught prey.

MANNING -the process of taming a hawk.

MANTLE- when a hawk fluffs-up its feathers and attempts to cover a kill with its wings.

MEW (s) - building or other structure for keeping a hawk.

MOULT- the process of shedding old and growing new feathers.

MUTE - hawk droppings.

PASSAGE - A wild caught hawk on migration in immature plumage.

PITCH- the altitude a hawk "waits on".

PUT OVER- when a hawk moves food from it's crop to it's stomach.

QUARRY -The species hunted by a hawk

ROUSE- when a hawk fluffs and shakes its feathers.

SHORTWING -A true hawk of the Accipiter genus.

SLICE- when a hawk propels its droppings out away from the nest or perch.

STOOP- a high speed dive made by a hawk toward it's prey from high altitude.

SWIVEL goes between the jesses and leash to prevent tangles

TALON - a raptor claw or toe nail.

TIERCEL- a male peregrine ( is also used to discribe males of other species) .

WAIT-ON- when a falcon circles above a falconer waiting for game to be flushed.

YARAK- when a hawk is in true hunting condition.

Welcome to my Falconry site