GLOSSARY
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ACCIPITER
The Latin name for a genus of raptors, the
"short winged hawks" of classic falconry, such as
goshawks or Cooper's.
BATE
To flutter off the fist or perch; an abortive
attempt to fly when the bird is restrained by the leash.
BIND
To grab and hold onto quarry (or volunteers)
with the feet.
BLOCK
A perch for a longwing, usually wood.
BLOOD FEATHERS
New feathers not yet fully grown, whose shafts
contain blood at the top.
BRACELET
A leather strap fastened around the leg of a
raptor, through which a jess is threaded.
BRACES
Leather straps used to open or close the hood.
BRANCHER
A young bird of prey which has left the nest,
but is still learning to fly and is fed by its parents.
BUMBLEFOOT
A bacterial corn in the ball of the foot or
toes that causes swelling.
BUTEO
The Latin name for a genus of raptors; the
buzzards of classic falconry. In North American, redtailed
hawks, etc.
CAST
Two hawks flown together, or To hold a hawk
for imping, attaching furnishings, etc.
CASTING
The indigestible portions of the last meal of
a raptor, usually bone and feathers that are formed into a
compact pellet and disgorged through the mouth.
CERE
The bare, wax-like skin above the beak.
COPE
Cutting back or shortening either the beak or
talons of a raptor.
CRAB, CRABBING
When hawks seize each other, either in the air
or on the ground.
CREANCE
A light line attached to the swivel of a
partly trained hawk before she is allowed to fly loose.
CROP
The vascular sac above the sternum in which
the diurnal raptors first receive and store food before
passing it on to the stomach.
CROP, PUT OVER
The action of a raptor, when by movements of
the neck and shoulders it forces food from the crop into the
stomach.
DECK FEATHERS
The two central feathers of the tail.
DIURNAL
Day-time hunter.
EYASS
A nestling, or young hawk taken from the nest.
FALCON
Originally referred to the female of the
"long winged" hawks (genus Falco); now applied to
any species and either sex of the genus.
FEAK
The action of a raptor of wiping the beak
against the perch or the glove after feeding.
FLIGHT FEATHERS
The main feathers used in flight, the
primaries.
FOOT, TO
To strike with the feet, and clutch or bind.
FROUNCE
A disease of the mouth and throat of birds,
most common in pigeons, doves, and raptors. Shows up as a
coating on the mouth, tongue and crop.
FULLY SUMMED
When a hawk has got all her new feathers after
moulting.
HACK BACK
To offer support to a hawk being released back
to the wild.
HAGGARD
A hawk in mature plumage.
HARD PENNED
When the new feathers are fully grown and the
shafts have hardened off to a quill.
HOOD
A close-fitting leather cap used to cover the
head and eyes of a hawk.
IMP
A method of repairing broken flight feathers
by replacing the broken portion with part of another feather.
IMPRINT
A learned process which defines the identity
of a bird to that which it sees when its eyes first focus.
Imprinted birds cannot survive in the wild and do not breed
naturally.
INTERMEWED
A hawk which has moulted in captivity.
JESSES
Leather straps attached to the legs (tarsi) of
a trained raptor.
AYLMERI JESS - A leather
bracelet with grommet and jess.
KNURL
A leather knot made at the end of a leash or
aylmeri jess.
LURE
An imitation bird or animal used to entice the
hawk in training.
MAN, TO
To tame a hawk by accustoming her to people's
presence.
MANTLE, TO
To stand over a skill or food with wings
lowered and spread out to hide the food.
MEW
The building or room in which hawks are kept.
MUTES
The excrement of hawks.
NARES
The nostrils of a hawk.
PASSAGE
The migration of hawks. Also, a bird taken
during its first migration is called a "Passage
bird."
PLUMAGE
The feathers of a hawk.
PLUME
To pluck the feathers off the quarry.
PREEN
Straightening and dressing the feathers by
running them through the beak; one of the signs of
contentment and good adjustment in a trained raptor.
RAPTOR
Bird of prey. Comes from the Latin for
"To seize."
ROUSE
To raise the feathers slightly before shaking
the plumage back into position.
SECONDARIES
The flight feathers of the wing, between the
body and the primaries.
SHAFT
The central hollow strut of a feather, giving
it support.
SLICE
The action employed by eagles, hawks, and
vultures of evacuating mutes.
SOAR
The riding of thermals or updrafts by a bird.
STOOP
The rapid descent of a longwing from a height,
at quarry or the lure, with wings nearly closed.
SWIVEL
Mechanical device attached to jesses and leash
to reduce a bird's entanglement when moving about.
TIDBITS
Small pieces of meat used to reward or entice
a raptor in training or performing.
TIERCEL
The male peregrine, from the French
"tierce," meaning third. The term is often used for
the male of any species of hawk.
TIRING
A tough piece of meat given to a hawk to pull
at, in order to prolong the meal and exercise the muscles of
the back and neck.
WARBLE
To stretch both wings upwards over the back
till they nearly touch and, at the same time, to spread the
tail.
WEATHER
Placing a raptor in the open air in good
weather.
WEATHERING YARD
The area where the hawks are kept on perches.
