Glossary of Terms

This list of terms used in falconry is not (yet) a complete list, but limited to the terms used in Harrie Knol's Falconry Portal

Austringer

The trainer of a Shortwing or Broadwing hawk.

Broadwing hawk

A species of Buteo or Parabuteo.

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora. Installed in July 1975 after it was ratified by 10 countries. Currently over 90 countries entered in. The conventions is meant to be the basis for international cooperation regarding the protection of and trade in animals and plants.

Haggard

A wild caught hawk in adult plumage.

Longwing or Long-winged Hawk

The species of true falcons with long wings, short tails, dark eyes and toothed beaks.

Musket

The male Sparrowhawk.

Passager or Passage Hawk

A wild caught hawk on migration in immature plumage.

Shortwing or Short-winged Hawk

The species of the true hawks (Accipiters) with short wings, long tails, yellow(ish) eyes and toothless beaks.

Tiercel

Essentially the male peregrine, but, if qualified, the male of any longwing. Sometimes also used for the male of a shortwing or broadwing, however never for the male Sparrowhawk which is called a musket.

Waiting on

A form of falconry where the hawk, most times a longwing, circles on a high pitch until the falconer flushes the game.

Owner and creater

Created on February 4, 1996
Last updated on October 28, 2000