Falcons are birds of prey with long. narrow, pointed wings. They inhabit wide open country such as mountain or moorland. Falcons hunt by means of the stoop, the spectacular, sometimes vertical dive, terminating in binding to the prey (grabbing hold of), or giving it a glancing blow with hind talons. This blow is often fatal, if not, the falcon will “fetch up” up to 100 feet or more before finishing off the prey. Another way to fly falcons is from the fist out of the hood where high, ringing flights at crows, rooks or skylarks can be enjoyed. This is Falconry at its most spectacular, but it needs a great deal of time and space to practice it. The birds need to be flown at quarry at least five times a week, and it takes a couple of weeks just to get them in their stride (thus a fortnight’s holiday on a grouse moor just isn’t sufficient). So, unless you live close to suitable terrain, devoid of any cover for quarry to hide in, forget this form of Falconry. Also, most working Falconers cannot find the daylight hours to keep their birds flying in winter. Falcons can also be flown in more enclosed country like Hawks.

It can be thus seen that it is vital to choose the correct falcon for the quarry to be hunted. Female Lanners and Luggers, Sakrets and Peregrine tiercels (males) are only of use for partridges, and, if a cast is available, for magpies and black-headed gulls (DEFRA no longer issue quarry licences for common gulls). The smaller tiercels ie Lannerets, Luggers and Prairie tiercels are unfortunately not much use as hunting birds, as the type of quarry which they can take do not give flights of suitable quality and style. Merlins can be flown at skylark, meadow pippit and snipe, but flying them at starlings does not give a stylish flight.

With all falcons, a long range telemetry set will be needed.

Hybrid Falcons

There are nowadays many hybrid falcons available. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as you remember two key points. Firstly you do not get an exact blend of characteristics; any characteristic can be anywhere between those of the parents. Secondly, you still need to choose a specimen suitable in size for the quarry species you have available.