Falconry Exam A+ Pass 100% Correct
Solutions
Which of the following is generally true regarding male raptors . . . a. first to return from
migration b. chose the nesting area c. provides most of the food after the young have
hatched d. all of the above - Answer- d. all of the above
A raptor tends to reach full size . . . a. at one year of age b. when they leave the nest c.
at six months of age d. at five years of age - Answer- b. when they leave the nest
Hawks belonging to the genus Accipiter are also known as . . a. broad wings b. long
wings c. short wings d. all of the above - Answer- c. short wings
Which species of raptor does not exhibit sexual dimorphism . . . a. Kestrel b. Red-tailed
Hawk c. Peregrine d. none of the above are correct - Answer- d. none of the above are
correct
A relaxed hawk is likely to . . . a. preen b. raise and tuck one foot c. rouse d. all of the
above - Answer- d. all of the above
Which of the following does not describe a portion of a raptors wing?
a. coverts b. alula c. cere d. secondaries - Answer- c. cere
Which of the following terms does not fit with the others? a. talon b. train c. tarsus d.
hallux - Answer- b. train
Which factor is most important in determining what raptor any falconer should fly? a.
appropriateness of raptor housing b. availability of prey suitable for that raptor c.
proximity to other falconers flying similar raptors d. none of the above - Answer- b.
availability of prey suitable for that raptor
The terms "passage," "imprint," and "chamber" describe... a. the legal status of the
falconer b. the nature of the mews area in which a raptor is kept c. how the raptor was
raised d. none of the above - Answer- c. how the raptor was raised
All "raptors" includes species of the order or orders... a. Strigiformes b. Falconiformes c.
Accipitridae d. both a and b - Answer- d. both a & b, The term "raptor" includes all
hawks and owls. Accipitridae is the largest family of hawks and eagles within the order
Falconiformes, but it is not an "order".
Desertion of the nest by adult raptors is most likely to occur... a. just prior to egg laying
b. during late incubation c. during hatching d. just prior to fledging - Answer- a. just prior
,to egg laying, Once the eggs are laid, most raptors, though not all, are likely to stick with
their clutch, despite disturbances.
True or false: If the first clutch of eggs is destroyed soon after being laid, many hawks
and falcons will lay a second clutch. - Answer- True. This tendency has been used by
raptor propagators to maximize the progeny of breeding pairs. The system is called
"double clutching." Caution: some raptors, if disturbed on eggs in the wild, will abandon
their nests and close down their reproductive systems for the season.
A falconer is most likely to encounter a "brancher" of a species of hawk or falcon in... a.
January b. March c. June d. October - Answer- c. June, A brancher is a young hawk
that has left the nest or eyrie, but has not left the immediate vicinity. In New York, a
falconer will most likely encounter a brancher of the species of hawks or falcons used in
falconry in June. Great Horned Owls typically breed in January or February (depending
on geographical location), so branchers of this species would be encountered earlier
than June (February or March).
There is an observed trend of young avian predators (particularly falcons), shortly after
leaving the care of an adult, to begin taking quarry considerably larger than is the norm
for adults of the same species. This is probably because... a. the youngsters are still
growing and need more food than adults b. the young birds are stronger and can out-
compete their elders for larger, more nutritious prey c. more skill is required to catch a
smaller bird d. all of the above - Answer- c. more skill is required to catch a smaller bird,
Certain principles of aerodynamics dictate that any bird lighter than a raptor that is
chasing it can, if the wing loading is even approximately the same, always turn inside
the turning radius of the larger, heavier bird. This factor operates very powerfully for a
few months, but as the raptor develops flying skill and dexterity, smaller and less
dangerous quarry are taken with increasing frequency.
The bird most likely to breed naturally in captivity is... a. a passage bird b. an imprint
eyas c. a raptor (parent)-raised eyas d. all of the above - Answer- c. a raptor (parent)-
raied eyas, Raptor-raised eyases are the most successful captive breeders. Captive
bred raptors have produced significant numbers of young in the United States.
Male and female hawks can be determined in most species by... a. the faster speed of
the females b. the faster speed of the males c. the larger size of the females d. the
larger size of the males - Answer- c. the larger size of the females, In most species the
coloration of the sexes is similar. Speeds probably don't differ between the sexes, but
especially in the bird-eating species, there is a great difference in the size between
males and females. Males of some species are one-third smaller than the females.
Falconiforms in immature plumage appear to be... a. smaller than when they become
adults b. larger than when they become adults c. the same size as when they become
adults d. larger or smaller than the adults, depending on how well they were fed as
nestlings and on how successful they were as hunters after leaving the nest - Answer-
b. larger than when they become adults, The juvenile flight feathers tend to be longer
,than the adult feathers to compensate for the less developed muscles and less ossified
bones. This may give immature birds the appearance of being larger.
In Buteo, Parabuteo, and Accipiter, molting of the primary wing feathers... a. starts with
the inner most primary (ornithologically number 1) and proceeds in sequence to the
outermost primary (ornithologically number 10) b. starts with the number 10 and
proceeds inwards to number 1 c. starts with the primary number 4 and proceeds in both
directions d. proceeds in an irregular fashion but is the same sequence on each wing -
Answer- Ans. a The correct answer for the genus Falco would be c. Caution: The critical
word here is "ornithologically." Historically, falconers counted primaries just the
opposite. What is ornithologically number 1 is, to some falconers, number 10. However,
most modern falconry literature counts according to the ornithological method
Haggards (adults) are not taken for falconry because... a. they may be too old and might
die soon b. they are too difficult to train c. they are nature's breeding stock and should
be allowed to function as such d. they will only take the prey species they have
specialized to catch in the wild - Answer- Ans. c Young birds of prey have more than a
70% mortality rate before they reach breeding age. The consensus of falconers and
regulators in the United States is that those birds that have survived to adulthood should
be allowed to remain in the wild as part of the breeding population
True or false: Hawks and falcons hunt by sight and hearing; their sense of smell is not
well developed. - Answer- Ans. True
One is most likely to find the "cere"... a. on the head of a raptor b. on the feet of a raptor
c. on the wings of a raptor d. around the breast area of a raptor - Answer- Ans. a The
cere is the waxy yellow, blue, grey, or green skin at the top of the beak in which the
nostrils are situated.
The "tarsus" of a raptor is part of the bird's... a. wing b. leg c. tail d. head - Answer- Ans.
b The tarsus is that part of the leg which extends from the foot upward to the first joint. It
is the portion where jesses and bewits are attached.
23. A bird's "train" is it's... a. head b. wing c. foot d. tail - Answer- Ans. d The train is the
tail.
"Deck" feathers are... a. the central pair of tail feathers b. the feather tuft on top of a
falcon's hood. c. the feathers used in imping a broken tail or wing feathers d. the row of
feathers which run down the wing above the primaries and secondaries - Answer- Ans.
a the central pair of tail feathers
A good indication of completed growth in eyases is when the bird is... a. full summed b.
hard penned c. both a and b d. b but not a - Answer- Ans. c Hard-penned and full
summed are synonymous. They mean that the blood has withdrawn from the newly
grown large feathers of the wings and tail, and that the feathers have hardened.
, Your bird is likely to "mantle"... a. when in active pursuit of quarry b. when standing over
quarry c. both a and b d. neither a nor b - Answer- Ans. b The term "mantle" is used to
describe both a) the stretching of one wing and one leg on the same side, which is an
indication that the bird is relaxed and contented, and b) the spreading of wings and tail
over food or quarry, which is a defensive behavior used to conceal food from other
animals.
A bird that is very comfortable with its surroundings and has a full crop is likely to... a.
gorge b. hack c. rouse d. rangle - Answer- Ans. c "Rouse" is an action common to all
birds in which all the feathers are slowly erected, the bird shakes itself and the feather
then slowly settle back into place. It is considered a sign of tameness and well-being.
"Gorge" is permitting a hawk to eat all it can, until it refuses to eat more. "Hack" is the
state of complete liberty sometimes permitted to eyases during the first few weeks after
they can fly. "Rangle" pertains to small stones given orally to a hawk
A bird is likely to "preen"... a. following a bath b. when it is content c. both a and b d.
neither a nor b - Answer- Ans. c "Preening" describes a birds' behavior in straightening
and dressing its feathers. It is a sign of a well-adjusted raptor. A bird will often preen
following a bath, or when it is content and comfortable.
"Cast" means... a. the act of disgorging a pellet of fur, feathers, bones, or all three b.
two falcons flown together c. to hold or wrap a hawk so as to prevent movement d. all of
the above - Answer- Ans. d All are correct. A casting is the indigestible portions of a
raptor's meal, usually the bones and feathers of their prey, which are formed into a
compact pellet and disgorged through the mouth. The word, "cast," is also used to
mean two raptors of the same species flown together, of either sex. One also "casts" a
bird to immobilize it.
The medieval falconer was most likely to "enseam" his or her bird... a. when it was hood
shy b. immediately after capturing the bird c. when the bird was too fat d. when the bird
was sharp-set - Answer- Ans. c "Enseam" means to prepare a hawk for flying by
eliminating her reserves of fat. Today it may refer to the practice of feeding washed
meat. The medieval term referred to certain purges (e.g. rangle) given to a hawk which
were supposed to rid it of excess fat and mucus, thus making it more eager to fly.
A hawk or falcon is most likely to "put over" its crop... a. when entering a stoop b. while
being entered on new quarry c. just before eating d. just after eating - Answer- Ans. d
To "put over" a crop is the action of a raptor when, by movements of the neck and
shoulders, it forces food from the crop into the stomach. A crop has been "put away"
when all the food in the crop has been moved into the stomach.
A bird is most likely to "feak"... a. just before making a kill b. just after taking a bath c.
just after a meal d. just before breaking in - Answer- Ans. c To "feak" is the action of a
raptor wiping its beak against the perch or on the glove after feeding
Solutions
Which of the following is generally true regarding male raptors . . . a. first to return from
migration b. chose the nesting area c. provides most of the food after the young have
hatched d. all of the above - Answer- d. all of the above
A raptor tends to reach full size . . . a. at one year of age b. when they leave the nest c.
at six months of age d. at five years of age - Answer- b. when they leave the nest
Hawks belonging to the genus Accipiter are also known as . . a. broad wings b. long
wings c. short wings d. all of the above - Answer- c. short wings
Which species of raptor does not exhibit sexual dimorphism . . . a. Kestrel b. Red-tailed
Hawk c. Peregrine d. none of the above are correct - Answer- d. none of the above are
correct
A relaxed hawk is likely to . . . a. preen b. raise and tuck one foot c. rouse d. all of the
above - Answer- d. all of the above
Which of the following does not describe a portion of a raptors wing?
a. coverts b. alula c. cere d. secondaries - Answer- c. cere
Which of the following terms does not fit with the others? a. talon b. train c. tarsus d.
hallux - Answer- b. train
Which factor is most important in determining what raptor any falconer should fly? a.
appropriateness of raptor housing b. availability of prey suitable for that raptor c.
proximity to other falconers flying similar raptors d. none of the above - Answer- b.
availability of prey suitable for that raptor
The terms "passage," "imprint," and "chamber" describe... a. the legal status of the
falconer b. the nature of the mews area in which a raptor is kept c. how the raptor was
raised d. none of the above - Answer- c. how the raptor was raised
All "raptors" includes species of the order or orders... a. Strigiformes b. Falconiformes c.
Accipitridae d. both a and b - Answer- d. both a & b, The term "raptor" includes all
hawks and owls. Accipitridae is the largest family of hawks and eagles within the order
Falconiformes, but it is not an "order".
Desertion of the nest by adult raptors is most likely to occur... a. just prior to egg laying
b. during late incubation c. during hatching d. just prior to fledging - Answer- a. just prior
,to egg laying, Once the eggs are laid, most raptors, though not all, are likely to stick with
their clutch, despite disturbances.
True or false: If the first clutch of eggs is destroyed soon after being laid, many hawks
and falcons will lay a second clutch. - Answer- True. This tendency has been used by
raptor propagators to maximize the progeny of breeding pairs. The system is called
"double clutching." Caution: some raptors, if disturbed on eggs in the wild, will abandon
their nests and close down their reproductive systems for the season.
A falconer is most likely to encounter a "brancher" of a species of hawk or falcon in... a.
January b. March c. June d. October - Answer- c. June, A brancher is a young hawk
that has left the nest or eyrie, but has not left the immediate vicinity. In New York, a
falconer will most likely encounter a brancher of the species of hawks or falcons used in
falconry in June. Great Horned Owls typically breed in January or February (depending
on geographical location), so branchers of this species would be encountered earlier
than June (February or March).
There is an observed trend of young avian predators (particularly falcons), shortly after
leaving the care of an adult, to begin taking quarry considerably larger than is the norm
for adults of the same species. This is probably because... a. the youngsters are still
growing and need more food than adults b. the young birds are stronger and can out-
compete their elders for larger, more nutritious prey c. more skill is required to catch a
smaller bird d. all of the above - Answer- c. more skill is required to catch a smaller bird,
Certain principles of aerodynamics dictate that any bird lighter than a raptor that is
chasing it can, if the wing loading is even approximately the same, always turn inside
the turning radius of the larger, heavier bird. This factor operates very powerfully for a
few months, but as the raptor develops flying skill and dexterity, smaller and less
dangerous quarry are taken with increasing frequency.
The bird most likely to breed naturally in captivity is... a. a passage bird b. an imprint
eyas c. a raptor (parent)-raised eyas d. all of the above - Answer- c. a raptor (parent)-
raied eyas, Raptor-raised eyases are the most successful captive breeders. Captive
bred raptors have produced significant numbers of young in the United States.
Male and female hawks can be determined in most species by... a. the faster speed of
the females b. the faster speed of the males c. the larger size of the females d. the
larger size of the males - Answer- c. the larger size of the females, In most species the
coloration of the sexes is similar. Speeds probably don't differ between the sexes, but
especially in the bird-eating species, there is a great difference in the size between
males and females. Males of some species are one-third smaller than the females.
Falconiforms in immature plumage appear to be... a. smaller than when they become
adults b. larger than when they become adults c. the same size as when they become
adults d. larger or smaller than the adults, depending on how well they were fed as
nestlings and on how successful they were as hunters after leaving the nest - Answer-
b. larger than when they become adults, The juvenile flight feathers tend to be longer
,than the adult feathers to compensate for the less developed muscles and less ossified
bones. This may give immature birds the appearance of being larger.
In Buteo, Parabuteo, and Accipiter, molting of the primary wing feathers... a. starts with
the inner most primary (ornithologically number 1) and proceeds in sequence to the
outermost primary (ornithologically number 10) b. starts with the number 10 and
proceeds inwards to number 1 c. starts with the primary number 4 and proceeds in both
directions d. proceeds in an irregular fashion but is the same sequence on each wing -
Answer- Ans. a The correct answer for the genus Falco would be c. Caution: The critical
word here is "ornithologically." Historically, falconers counted primaries just the
opposite. What is ornithologically number 1 is, to some falconers, number 10. However,
most modern falconry literature counts according to the ornithological method
Haggards (adults) are not taken for falconry because... a. they may be too old and might
die soon b. they are too difficult to train c. they are nature's breeding stock and should
be allowed to function as such d. they will only take the prey species they have
specialized to catch in the wild - Answer- Ans. c Young birds of prey have more than a
70% mortality rate before they reach breeding age. The consensus of falconers and
regulators in the United States is that those birds that have survived to adulthood should
be allowed to remain in the wild as part of the breeding population
True or false: Hawks and falcons hunt by sight and hearing; their sense of smell is not
well developed. - Answer- Ans. True
One is most likely to find the "cere"... a. on the head of a raptor b. on the feet of a raptor
c. on the wings of a raptor d. around the breast area of a raptor - Answer- Ans. a The
cere is the waxy yellow, blue, grey, or green skin at the top of the beak in which the
nostrils are situated.
The "tarsus" of a raptor is part of the bird's... a. wing b. leg c. tail d. head - Answer- Ans.
b The tarsus is that part of the leg which extends from the foot upward to the first joint. It
is the portion where jesses and bewits are attached.
23. A bird's "train" is it's... a. head b. wing c. foot d. tail - Answer- Ans. d The train is the
tail.
"Deck" feathers are... a. the central pair of tail feathers b. the feather tuft on top of a
falcon's hood. c. the feathers used in imping a broken tail or wing feathers d. the row of
feathers which run down the wing above the primaries and secondaries - Answer- Ans.
a the central pair of tail feathers
A good indication of completed growth in eyases is when the bird is... a. full summed b.
hard penned c. both a and b d. b but not a - Answer- Ans. c Hard-penned and full
summed are synonymous. They mean that the blood has withdrawn from the newly
grown large feathers of the wings and tail, and that the feathers have hardened.
, Your bird is likely to "mantle"... a. when in active pursuit of quarry b. when standing over
quarry c. both a and b d. neither a nor b - Answer- Ans. b The term "mantle" is used to
describe both a) the stretching of one wing and one leg on the same side, which is an
indication that the bird is relaxed and contented, and b) the spreading of wings and tail
over food or quarry, which is a defensive behavior used to conceal food from other
animals.
A bird that is very comfortable with its surroundings and has a full crop is likely to... a.
gorge b. hack c. rouse d. rangle - Answer- Ans. c "Rouse" is an action common to all
birds in which all the feathers are slowly erected, the bird shakes itself and the feather
then slowly settle back into place. It is considered a sign of tameness and well-being.
"Gorge" is permitting a hawk to eat all it can, until it refuses to eat more. "Hack" is the
state of complete liberty sometimes permitted to eyases during the first few weeks after
they can fly. "Rangle" pertains to small stones given orally to a hawk
A bird is likely to "preen"... a. following a bath b. when it is content c. both a and b d.
neither a nor b - Answer- Ans. c "Preening" describes a birds' behavior in straightening
and dressing its feathers. It is a sign of a well-adjusted raptor. A bird will often preen
following a bath, or when it is content and comfortable.
"Cast" means... a. the act of disgorging a pellet of fur, feathers, bones, or all three b.
two falcons flown together c. to hold or wrap a hawk so as to prevent movement d. all of
the above - Answer- Ans. d All are correct. A casting is the indigestible portions of a
raptor's meal, usually the bones and feathers of their prey, which are formed into a
compact pellet and disgorged through the mouth. The word, "cast," is also used to
mean two raptors of the same species flown together, of either sex. One also "casts" a
bird to immobilize it.
The medieval falconer was most likely to "enseam" his or her bird... a. when it was hood
shy b. immediately after capturing the bird c. when the bird was too fat d. when the bird
was sharp-set - Answer- Ans. c "Enseam" means to prepare a hawk for flying by
eliminating her reserves of fat. Today it may refer to the practice of feeding washed
meat. The medieval term referred to certain purges (e.g. rangle) given to a hawk which
were supposed to rid it of excess fat and mucus, thus making it more eager to fly.
A hawk or falcon is most likely to "put over" its crop... a. when entering a stoop b. while
being entered on new quarry c. just before eating d. just after eating - Answer- Ans. d
To "put over" a crop is the action of a raptor when, by movements of the neck and
shoulders, it forces food from the crop into the stomach. A crop has been "put away"
when all the food in the crop has been moved into the stomach.
A bird is most likely to "feak"... a. just before making a kill b. just after taking a bath c.
just after a meal d. just before breaking in - Answer- Ans. c To "feak" is the action of a
raptor wiping its beak against the perch or on the glove after feeding
